As a charming mountainous city in Arizona, Prescott surprise many visitors with its higher than normal elevations. In this complete guide we'll detail all you need to know about Prescott altitude and our proven tips to help you avoid Prescott altitude sickness.
Prescott AZ altitude sits at 5400 feet above sea level. This makes Prescott one of the highest cities in Arizona.
Located in the central part of Arizona, Prescott is known for its historic downtown and outdoor recreation opportunities. The city is surrounded by national forests and offers a variety of hiking trails, mountain biking routes, and rock climbing areas. The nearby lakes and rivers provide ample places for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Some of the popular areas nearby include Prescott National Forest, Prescott Circle Trail, Watson Lake, and Jerome. At slightly farther distances, iconic destinations include the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona.
Altitudes of destinations that surround Prescott:
At the heights of these elevations of Prescott AZ and its surrounding areas, you'll want to be well prepared.
Yes, Prescott is considered high altitude.
High altitude starts at 4900 feet, according to Mountain Medicine.¹² Prescott AZ exceeds that elevation, making it a high altitude destination.
Prescott is part of the northern region of Arizona called "High Country, which is a nickname for the Colorado Plateau that also includes Flagstaff, Sedona, and Payson.
Less than an hour away, Mount Union is the highest point near Prescott at 7969 feet above sea level.
As the highest peak in the Bradshaw Mountains that are visible from Phoenix, Mount Union is located in the Prescott National Forest.
While Prescott is 5400 feet, making it a city that's over a mile high, Denver is also coined the "mile high city" at nearly exactly 5280 feet high.
Yes, some areas of Arizona including Prescott can give you altitude sickness.
Research has shown that altitude sickness starts around 5000 feet, in which Prescott exceeds that height.¹⁴ Denver for example at slightly lower altitude of 5280 feet, gets an estimated 10% of visitors that struggle with altitude sickness.¹⁵
Prescott Altitude Sickness can be a threat if you're not careful. Also known as acute mountain sickness, it occurs when there's a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. The higher you go, the less oxygen there is in the air.
Physiological stress, oxidative stress, increased respiration, and dehydration can play a role too. The dry climate of Arizona can compound some of these issues. This leads to symptoms such as headache, nausea, and fatigue.
Symptoms of Prescott altitude sickness may include:
These symptoms typically develop within 6-24 hours. Stay alert to how you feel and it's best to take altitude precautions for your trip which we'll cover below.
Are you planning a trip to Prescott, Arizona, and worried about altitude sickness? Prescott is a beautiful destination, but with its high elevation, altitude sickness is a real concern for visitors and can ruin your vacation.
As a Colorado company with years of high altitude experience, we'll share with you our top researched tips to avoid Prescott altitude sickness and make the most of your trip.
Here's 5 Tips To Avoid Prescott Altitude Sickness:
In conclusion, follow these top researched tips to avoid Prescott AZ altitude sickness — including taking it slow, staying hydrated, limiting alcohol intake, getting ample sleep, and taking antioxidants.
If you're looking for a safe, effective way to boost your body, it doesn't get any better than Zaca. Rehydrate, replenish, and recover faster with Zaca's chewables. Its uniquely developed formulation includes glutathione, your body's master antioxidant. These tasty chewables help boost your performance and recovery so you can enjoy every moment of your adventure in the mountains. Starting a few days before your trip and during your trip, take 2-4 chewable daily or as needed. Try Zaca chewable supplements today and feel your best while traveling.
SOURCES:
1. Prescott Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott,_Arizona
2. Prescott National Forest Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_National_Forest
3. Mount Union Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Union_(Arizona)
4. Prescott Circle Trail Elevation
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd610998.pdf
5. Watson Lake Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watson_Lake_(Arizona)
6. Grand Canyon Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon
7. Flagstaff Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagstaff,_Arizona
8. Prescott Valley Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Valley,_Arizona
9. Chino Valley Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chino_Valley,_Arizona
10. Dewey–Humboldt Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey%E2%80%93Humboldt,_Arizona
11. Prescott AZ Elevation
https://vacationidea.com/arizona/prescott-az-elevation.html
12. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
13. High Country Arizona
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_country
14. Patient education: High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics
15. Don’t let altitude sickness ruin your trip to Colorado
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/23/altitude-sickness-tips-colorado/
16. 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/
17. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
18. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
19. National Sleep Foundation
https://www.thensf.org/how-many-hours-of-sleep-do-you-really-need/
20. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
21. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
22. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
