3 Tips To Prevent Yellowstone Altitude Sickness

Yellowstone Altitude Sickness

If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, then one of the most important things that you need to do is learn how to prevent altitude sickness. Read on for three tips to help prevent Yellowstone altitude sickness.

Yellowstone Altitude Sickness

If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, or even the Grand Tetons National Park, there's one thing you need to understand: The altitude can be your enemy.

Yellowstone is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. With so many activities available — from hiking and biking to fishing, boating and horseback riding — there's no shortage of ways to enjoy the park's natural beauty and home to some of the most scenic and breathtaking spots in the world. But those who aren't used to the high altitude may not know what they're getting into when they book their trip.

Can you get altitude sickness in Yellowstone? Yes. Although mild, many visitors coming from sea level are at risk to experience some forms of altitude sickness.

Yellowstone Altitude sickness happens when you travel to higher altitudes with little time for body to adjust. It's caused by changes in air pressure and low oxygen levels that affect how well your body functions. 

Symptoms develop usually in 6-24 hours and may include:

  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • difficulty sleeping
  • trouble breathing

Before you head out on your trip, it's important that you understand how to prevent altitude sickness while visiting Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Altitude

The average elevation is around 7,732 feet above sea level, but the highest Yellowstone altitude is 11,350 feet if you're climbing mountains to places such as Eagle Peak.

Yellowstone Altitude:

  • Yellowstone altitude - 7,732 to 11,350 ft (2356 to 3459 m)

Due to the elevations, make sure to take proper precautions on your Yellowstone trip which we detail below.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the first national park in the world, and one of the largest. Yellowstone's 2.2 million acres (9,000 km) of wilderness, the park is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser. A part of the Rocky Mountains, it has many types of ecosystems: forests; mountain peaks; lakes like Yellowstone Lake; rivers; wetlands; grasslands; hot springs; and geysers – all in the same place!

3 Tips To Prevent Yellowstone Altitude Sickness

When you travel to a place like Yellowstone National Park, it’s easy to get caught up in the awe-inspiring beauty of it all. But one thing that can ruin your trip is Yellowstone altitude sickness, even if mild.

There's numerous way to prevent or even reverse altitude sickness that most people don't know. Here are 3 tips that will help you prevent altitude sickness while traveling through Yellowstone National Park:

1. Take It Slow & Acclimate

Don't overexert yourself while hiking or exploring Yellowstone trails and mountains. This seems obvious, but many people try to rush their way through a climb or hike because they're excited about reaching their destination or making it back down before dark. The best thing you can do for yourself is take your time and make sure that your body has time to adjust before pushing yourself too hard.

When you go from sea level up into the mountains, your body must adjust physically and mentally to the change in elevation — this process takes time. The best way to prevent altitude sickness is by not rushing acclimation. For example, if you fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, staying a night in Bozeman at 4,793 feet altitude can help body adjust before heading to Yellowstone.

Also pay attention to how you feel, if you start feeling sick or dizzy at any point during your Yellowstone visit, slow down and rest. In fact, ample sleep is also utmost important to help your body adjust as well.

2. Stay Hydrated

If you want to know how to avoid altitude sickness dehydration, water is your answer. High altitudes like in Yellowstone naturally have dryer air, and in addition to causing increased respiration in your body, you're much more inclined to being dehydrated and worsening altitude sickness.

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to avoid altitude sickness. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water—start drinking plenty of it before you arrive, and then daily on your Yellowstone visit. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day two quarts of water per day, if not more. For more details you can read our article on Why Does Water Help With Altitude Sickness.

When it comes to alcohol and altitude sickness, the two don't mix well. Alcohol is a diuretic which can promote water loss and exacerbate dehydration. It's best to avoid alcohol or minimize it your first day of arrival.

TIP: Lastly, taking a hydration enhancing product like cellular hydration supplements that Zaca makes will give you the best chance of staying hydrated, by helping to increase water absorption and electrolyte intake.

3. Take Herbs For Altitude Adjustment

One of the most effective ways to prevent altitude sickness is to take herbs for altitude adjustment. Herbs for altitude adjustment are natural and safe to use. They have no side effects like altitude sickness medicine.

These herbs can come as supplements for altitude sickness in forms such as altitude sickness tablets and altitude adjustment pills. We've done a lot of research and narrowed it down to the top two herbs for altitude adjustment.

Here's the the top 2 herbs for altitude adjustment:

  • Glutathione - In research, Glutathione has been shown to deplete in high altitude conditions.¹ Known as the body's master antioxidant, Glutathione plays a key role in fighting oxidative stress and if supplemented you can replenish this vital nutrient to combat high altitude.
  • DHM - Extracted from the Hovenia Dulcis plant, this DHM flavonoid has been shown to improve high altitude performance. By also increasing mitochondrial respiration activity, supplementing DHM can play a key role in your body to fight the negative effects of altitude.
The combination of these two herbs for altitude adjustment work synergistically to fuel your body and acclimate.

Top Reviewed Altitude Supplement

Altitude Supplement Reviews
Zaca chewables help you rehydrate, replenish and recover faster during high altitude trips. These easy-to-chew tablets combine premium, natural ingredients including bother Glutathione and DHM, along with other vital antioxidants and herbs. Popularly used throughout the Rocky Mountains, they come in portable packets to take on-the-go. Try Zaca's chewable tablets today and maximize your body during altitude adventures.

 

 

 



 

SOURCES:

1. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
2. Dihydromyricetin Improves Physical Performance under Simulated High Altitude
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2014/11000/Dihydromyricetin_Improves_Physical_Performance.6.aspx
3. Yellowstone National Park Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park