Cheyenne Altitude Sickness: Complete Guide & 7 Steps To Avoid It
If you're traveling to Cheyenne Wyoming, you'll want to be prepared for altitude sickness. In this complete guide we'll cover everything you need to know about Cheyenne altitude and seven steps to avoid Cheyenne altitude sickness.
Cheyenne Altitude
Cheyenne Wyoming altitude sits at 6,062 feet above sea level. These heights are even higher than Denver Colorado's altitude at 5,280 feet high.
- Cheyenne altitude - 6,062 ft (1,848 m)
Considered the nation's rodeo and railroad capital, Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Wyoming. At 6,700 feet in mean elevation, Wyoming is the second highest state in the US.
Right on the border of Colorado and ver close to Fort Collins, travelers will fly into either Cheyenne's Regional Airport or into the Denver International Airport only 100 miles away to visit.
Cheyenne is not only an attraction for the rodeos and outdoor areas like Vedauwoo Recreation Area in the Medicine Bow National Forest — it's the gateway to the parks such as Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks that includes Jackson Hole — also even the Snowy Range Ski Area. With the Rocky Mountains nearby, specifically the Laramie Mountains range, this gives high altitudes to many places.
High-altitude destinations in Wyoming around Cheyenne:
- Vedauwoo Recreation Area altitude - 8,200 ft (2500 m)
- Medicine Bow Peak altitude - 12,013 ft (3,662 m)
- Snowy Range Ski Area - 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
- Yellowstone altitude - 7,732 to 11,350 ft (2356 to 3459 m)
- Jackson Hole altitude - 6,311 to 10,450 ft (1924 to 3185 m)
- Grand Tetons altitude - 13,775 ft (4,198 m)
With the high altitude of Cheyenne Wyoming and other state destinations, you should be well prepared for altitude sickness.
Is Cheyenne High Altitude?
Yes, Cheyenne is considered high altitude.
According to Mountain Medicine, high altitude starts at 4,900 feet.⁶ At 6,062 feet, Cheyenne passes that high-altitude threshold.
Do People Get Altitude Sickness In Wyoming?
Yes, people get altitude sickness in Wyoming and also specifically in Cheyenne.
Altitude sickness is shown to start as low as 5000 feet, and Cheyenne is easily 1000 feet higher, along with most parts of Wyoming.⁷
Furthermore, it's estimated that about 10% of visitors of Denver get altitude sickness. Based that date alone, it would be assumed a higher amount of visitors of Cheyenne would get altitude sickness.
Cheyenne Altitude Sickness
Cheyenne altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), occurs typically when people go rapidly up to high altitude.
Altitude sickness is generally caused by lower oxygen levels in the air, leading to physiological stress, oxidative stress, and usually dehydration. The symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, nausea and shortness of breath.
Common symptoms of Cheyenne altitude sickness can include:
- Headache
- Fatigue (tiredness) or weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Feeling ill or malaise
These symptoms usually develop within 6-34 upon arrival in Cheyenne. It's best to be on the lookout for signs of Cheyenne altitude sickness and to follow precautions, especially when coming from sea level.
7 Steps To Avoid Cheyenne Altitude Sickness
If you're planning to visit the Magic City of the Plains, Cheyenne Wyoming, altitude sickness can be a real threat to your trip.
Being based in Colorado, we have years experience with high altitudes and we'll share with you our top steps to avoid altitude sickness.
Here's 7 steps to avoid Cheyenne altitude sickness:
1. Drink Plenty Of Water
Increased respiration at the high altitude of Cheyenne WY is a common cause of dehydration. According to Wilderness Medical Society, you can lose water twice as fast at high elevations compared to sea level.⁸
Drink plenty of water, it's recommended to drink an extra 32-50 ounces of water per day.⁸ Most people at high altitudes don't even realize they are dehydrated and need to drink more water than they think.
TIP: To maximize hydration, add sea salt (electrolytes) to your foods, and take Zaca
chewable tablets to help increase water absorption.
2. Take It Easy
As soon as you arrive in Cheyenne, take things slow and easy. Don't try to hike or run around town too much — just take it easy until your body adjusts to the altitude change.
If you feel difficulty breathing or shortness of breathe, take breaks to rest. Don't overexert yourself until you feel more acclimated, which can take 1-3 days.
3. Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol makes dehydration and possible altitude sickness worse at high altitudes due to water loss through urination, lower quality sleep, and lower oxygen saturation.⁹
Altitude sickness and a hangover combined can be miserable. Limit alcohol consumption your first few days in Cheyenne or until you feel free of any altitude sickness symptoms.
4. Sleep Well
Sleep has been shown to improve recovery, and increase blood flow and oxygen.¹⁰
Sleeping can be harder at high altitudes, so it's vital to get a good nights rest. Shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep, and get plenty of sunlight during the day and complete darkness at night to help your circadian rhythms.
5. Gradually Acclimate
If you're going to visit the mountainous spots with higher altitudes like Snowy Range Ski Area or Vedauwoo surpassing 8,000 to 10,000 feet — it's best to acclimate gradually.
This means spending a few days in Cheyenne to acclimate at 6,000 feet before proceeding to higher altitudes. Some will even do this on a road trip to places like the Grand Tetons National Park.
6. Take Antioxidants
High elevations have been shown to cause free radical damage and oxidative stress.¹¹ Antioxidants seem to be a promising approach to fighting oxidative stress.¹²
One study found that high altitudes depleted glutathione, the body's master antioxidant, by 45%. Supplementing antioxidants, and specifically glutathione, can help replenish those levels.¹³
7. Seek Medical Attention
Remember, altitude sickness can be serious, so it's important to listen to your body. These steps do no replace doctor recommendations, and if you experience severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
In conclusion, follow these seven steps to avoid Cheyenne altitude sickness — including drinking plenty of water, taking it easy, avoiding alcohol, sleeping well, gradually acclimating, taking antioxidants, and seeking medical attention.
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SOURCES:
1. Cheyenne Wyoming Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne,_Wyoming
2. 50 State Elevations (mean elevation)
https://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_elevation_mean.htm
3. Vedauwoo Recreation Area Elevation
https://www.cheyenne.org/listing/vedauwoo-recreation-area/440/
4. Medicine Bow National Forest Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_Bow%E2%80%93Routt_National_Forest
5. Snowy Range Ski Area Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_Range_Ski_Area
6. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
7. Patient education: High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics
8. Why Do You Need to Drink a Lot of Water at a High Altitude?
https://www.livestrong.com/article/360485-how-to-train-for-high-altitude-hiking/
9. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
10. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
11. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
12. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
13. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
