Monument Valley Altitude: Complete Guide
A breathtaking region located on the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley sees almost a half a million visitors a year. As a Colorado-based company, we’ll share our high elevation expertise with everything to know about Monument Valley altitude, plus expert tips to help avoid any issues.
What Altitude Is Monument Valley?
Monument Valley altitude sits at approximately an average of 5,200 feet above sea level. The elevation range reaches a high of about 6,000 feet.
Monument Valley Elevation:
- Monument Valley altitude - 5,000 to 6,176 ft (1,500 to 1,882 m)
For comparison, Denver Colorado sits at a similar average elevation of 5,280 feet.
How High Are The Buttes In Monument Valley?
Part of the stunning red sandstone formations, the buttes range in height between 400 to 1,000 feet higher than the valley floor.
The highest butte reaches 6,176 feet high, West Mitten Butte. Next closest in height is East Mitten Butte at 6,226 feet high.
Is Monument Valley Considered High Altitude?
Yes, Monument Valley is considered high altitude.
By Mountain Medicine’s standards of exceeding 4,900 feet, Monument Valley met the criteria to be high altitude.⁶
Can You Drive The 17-Mile Loop In Monument Valley?
Yes, you can drive the 17-mile loop (27 km) in Monument Valley.
Reviews say the drive takes anywhere between 2 to 4 hours, and all vehicles are okay except for very low built cars. ($20 per car)
The elevations while driving will on average be at least 5,000 feet or higher.
For the best stops along the way, check out this article 11 Stops on the Monument Valley Loop Drive.
Can You Get Altitude Sickness In Mountain Valley?
Yes, you’re at risk of altitude sickness in Mountain Valley.
Not only does Travel Medicine Consultants calculate altitude sickness to begin at 4,000 feet,⁷ Mountain Valley can have between 17% to 20% less oxygen than sea level.⁸
Mountain Valley Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), can affect visitors to Monument Valley due to the lower oxygen levels leading to physiological stress. These conditions could lead to symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Symptoms of Mountain Valley altitude sickness may include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling ill
- Sleep discomfort or insomnia
These issues typically start within 6-24 upon high altitude arrival. Monitor yourself at Mountain Valley white you acclimate, and to help your experience we have expert tips below.
5 Expert Tips To Avoid Monument Valley Altitude Sickness
With the valley's surreal landscape of towering buttes, mesas, and spires off the desert floor, visitors often run into altitude issues.
As a company with over ten years of elevation experience, we’ll share with you expert tips to help avoid any misery in Monument Valley.
Here’s 5 Expert Tips To Avoid Monument Valley Altitude Sickness:
1. Acclimate & Take It Slow
Going too high too fast can be troublesome. If you’re coming from sea level, you’ll want to take it slow upon arrival until acclimated.
The sudden change in altitude is stressful on your body. It’s highly recommended to stay at a relaxful hotel in Monument Valley for a night or two until acclimated, such as at The View Hotel.
2. Supplement Antioxidants
Taking antioxidant supplements can help your body combat the oxidative stress caused by high altitudes.¹⁰ One study found the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione, to deplete up to 45% in high elevation conditions.¹¹
These supplements can improve your body’s antioxidant health, and ones such as glutathione can even help recycle vitamins C and E.¹²
3. Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is a key ingredient to recovery, even blood flow and oxygen was shown to increase from sleep.¹³
Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and consider short naps if you feel fatigued during the day.
TIP: Get natural sunlight during the day, which can actually help sleep quality and melatonin production at night.
4. Avoid Alcohol
Similar to the effects of high altitude, alcohol can dehydrate your body, lower sleep quality, and cause headaches and fatigue.¹⁵
It’s best to avoid alcohol in Monument Valley, at minimum until you feel acclimated.
5. Hydrate Properly
High altitudes can increase fluid loss twice as fast than at sea level.¹⁶ Therefore, this can be a big risk to dehydration and stress on the body.
Hydrate properly by aiming for at least 3-4 liters of water per day.
Follow these expert tips to maximize your time in Monument Valley!
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SOURCES:
1. Monument Valley Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley
2. Southern Region Monument Valley Elevation
https://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/Southern-Region-Monument-Valley/
3. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Climate/Map
https://www.desertusa.com/monvalley/du_muv_map.html
4. Facts about The View Hotel and Monument Valley
https://monumentvalleyview.com/the-view-hotel/fact-sheet-qa/
5. About Monument Valley
https://bluffutah.org/monument-valley/
6. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
7. Altitude To Oxygen Chart
https://hypoxico.com/pages/altitude-to-oxygen-chart
8. High Altitude Illness
https://www.travelsurenyc.com/high-altitude-illness/
9. West and East Mitten Buttes Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_and_East_Mitten_Buttes
10. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
11. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
12. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
13. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
14. Monument Valley Utah Hotels
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g57072-Monument_Valley_Utah-Hotels.html
15. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
16. The Importance Of Drinking Water At High Altitude
https://summitoxygen.net/drinking-at-high-altitude/
17. Scenic Drive In Monument Valley
https://myitchytravelfeet.com/scenic-drive-in-monument-valley/
18. How Long Is the Drive Through Monument Valley?
https://www.maxtour.co/how-long-is-the-drive-through-monument-valley/
