Sedona Altitude Sickness: Complete Guide & 5 Tips To Avoid It
As one of the biggest attractions in the states, the altitude of Sedona is slightly higher than the rest of Arizona. In this complete guide we answer all your questions about the altitude of Sedona, if Sedona altitude sickness is a threat, and our best tips to avoid.
Sedona Altitude
The altitude of Sedona AZ is 4,350 feet above sea level. The mean elevation in Arizona is 4,100 feet, while Phoenix's elevation drops to just 1,086 feet.
- Sedona altitude - 4,350 ft (1,330 m)
Sedona is one of the most visited destinations in Arizona at over 3 million people a year — known for its beautiful red rock formations, outdoor activities, hiking trails, and spectacular views.
This area of Arizona is breathtaking, and in addition Sedona sits just south to two of the other notable areas with natural beauty including the Grand Canyon at 7,000 feet and Flagstaff at 6,909 feet.
If you plan to hike, like most visitors do, the mountains surrounding Sedona will take you to much higher heights — including the Wilson Mountain summit exceeding 7,000 feet.
These are the high-altitude mountains in Sedona:
- Wilson Mountain altitude - 7,122 ft (2,170 m)
- Munds Mountain altitude - 6,834 ft (2,083 m)
- Lost Wilson Mountain altitude 6,762 ft (2,061 m)
- Maroon Mountain altitude - 6,666 ft (2,031 m)
- Lee Mountain altitude - 6,592 ft (2,009 m)
- Lost Mountain altitude - 6,583 ft (2,006 m)
- UN 6564 (Manzanita Mountain) altitude - 6,564 ft (2,000 m)
- Bear Mountain altitude - 6,562 ft (2,000 m)
- UN 6549 (The Fortress) altitude - 6,549 ft (1996 m)
With the altitude of Sedona, it's better to be safe than sorry by preparing for altitude sickness.
Is Sedona High Altitude?
The International Society for Mountain Medicine designates high altitude to start at 4,900 feet.⁶ While the town of Sedona does not meet that threshold, most of the mountains do at 6,000 feet high on average, and so Sedona is considered high altitude in certain areas.
Can You Get Altitude Sickness In Sedona?
It depends on where in Sedona you're visiting. You'll have a low chance of altitude sickness in town at 4,350 feet, but the risk can jump up significantly in the mountains and on hikes such as at the popular Wilson Mountain at 7,122 feet.
The research shows that altitude sickness, or mountain illness, usually starts at 5,000.⁵ Places like Denver at 5,280 feet show travelers often struggle with the altitude.
With the altitude of Sedona AS, if you combine the very dry weather, being active, and exploring the higher altitude spots — altitude sickness can be a real threat. And if you plan to visit the nearby Grand Canyon or Flagstaff, these areas will only increase your chances.
Sedona Arizona Altitude Sickness
Sedona altitude sickness, which can be referred to as acute mountain sickness, is caused by the lower oxygen levels compared to sea level.
It's also thought that the dry climate of Sedona, combined with increased respiration at high altitudes, could further worsen altitude sickness. Mild symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, and trouble breathing.
Symptoms of Sedona altitude sickness may include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- Loss of appetitue
- Feeling ill or malaise
These symptoms of Sedona altitude sickness can typically develop within 6-24 hours. Be aware and on the lookout for any signs, especially if hiking the surrounding mountains, and learn about our top tips to help avoid altitude sickness below.
5 Tips To Avoid Sedona Altitude Sickness
Sedona is a beautiful destination with epic scenery, but its surrounding high altitudes reaching up to 7,000 feet can be a setback for visitors.
Being based in Colorado, we have years of experience with high altitudes and will share our best tips with you to help with Sedona altitude.
Here's 5 tips to avoid Sedona altitude sickness:
1. Maximize Hydration
According to Wilderness Medical Society, you lose fluids twice as fast at high altitudes due to increased respiration.⁷ To make matters worse, Sedona has a very dry climate, furthering the risk of dehydration.
Make sure that you drink enough water throughout the day, experts commonly recommend at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily.
TIP: To boost your hydration, add sea salt (electrolytes) to your food or water, and use Zaca hydration chewables to help increase water absorption.
2. Don't Overexert Yourself
When people visit Sedona for the first time, first signs of high altitudes can be fatigue or difficulty breathing. This is because at higher altitudes, your body needs more oxygen to function properly.
Take it easy and don't overexert yourself on your first day, and staying a night or two to help acclimate is best. By doing activities too quickly or going on a strenuous hike, you can make the altitude adjustment period worse.
3. Get Plenty Of Sleep
Sleep has been found to be the secret ingredient of recovery, and also to help increase blood flow and oxygen.⁸ Get plenty of sleep before and during your Sedona trip to help acclimatization.
To optimize your sleep and circadian rhythm, get plenty of natural sunlight during the day and complete darkness when sleeping. Most recommend to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
4. Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol can exacerbate symptoms by worsening your sleep, lowering blood oxygen saturation, and leading to dehydration.⁹
Alcohol and high altitudes don't mix well. Avoid alcohol or limit your consumption on the first day, or until you don't see any signs of altitude sickness.
5. Take Antioxidants
Oxidative stress is observed to be negative consequence of high altitude exposure.¹⁰ Antioxidants on the other hand have been shown to combat oxidative stress and be a promising approach to high elevations.¹¹
India did a study on high altitudes showing that glutathione, the body's master antioxidant, depletes by up to 45%.¹² Taking antioxidants can help to naturally increase your levels, replenish glutathione, and protect against free radical damage.
To conclude, follow these top researched tips to avoid Sedona altitude sickness, dehydration, or setbacks to your trip — these include maximizing hydration, not overexerting yourself, getting plenty of rest, avoiding alcohol, and taking antioxidants.
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SOURCES:
1. Sedona Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedona,_Arizona
2. Arizona Mean Elevation
https://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_elevation_mean.htm
3. Phoenix Arizona Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona
4. Sedona Summits Altitude
https://www.summitpost.org/sedona-summits-1-10/406866
5. High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics
6. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
7. 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
8. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
9. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
10. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
11. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
12. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
