Is Durango high enough to cause altitude sickness?
It's borderline. Durango sits at about 6,500 feet (Downtown Durango gives 6,512). The CDC's Yellow Book, the federal travel-medicine reference, says an unacclimatized traveler who sleeps at 8,000 feet or higher, "and sometimes lower," is at risk for altitude illness. So the town sits about 1,500 feet under the CDC's usual line. The "sometimes lower" part is the CDC's caveat, and it can't predict who will be affected. We aren't doctors.
Where you sleep matters more than where you visit. The CDC says low oxygen is worst during sleep, and day trips to high places with a return to lower ground at night are "much less stressful on the body."
What do the numbers look like around Durango?
Durango sits low next to the country around it. Here are some reference heights.
| Place | Elevation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Durango | 6,512 ft | Downtown Durango |
| Durango-La Plata County Airport | about 6,689 ft | FAA data via AirNav |
| Fort Lewis College campus | 6,872 ft | Durango Area Tourism Office |
| Purgatory Resort base | 8,793 ft | Resort fact sheet via Durango Area Tourism Office |
| Coal Bank Pass, US 550 | 10,640 ft | USGS data via Wikipedia |
The ski area base clears the CDC's 8,000-foot mark, and so does Coal Bank Pass. Other sources put Purgatory's base address nearer 8,943 feet, which is why our answer on Durango's elevation shows how the numbers shift. The CDC's advice is to avoid going "too high too fast."
What does the CDC say altitude sickness feels like?
The mild kind is called acute mountain sickness, or AMS, and it's the common one. In Colorado it affects 25% of visitors who sleep above 8,000 feet, the CDC says. Its description is blunt: AMS symptoms "are like those of an alcohol hangover; headache is the cardinal symptom." Other symptoms the CDC lists:
- Loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea, or sometimes vomiting
The timing, per the CDC:
- Starts: 2 to 12 hours after arrival, often overnight
- Lasts: usually 12 to 48 hours, if you don't go higher
The CDC also names two rare, serious forms, one in the lungs and one in the brain. It says they can be rapidly fatal and that descent is urgent. Breathlessness at rest, confusion and loss of coordination are among the warning signs. Treat those as an emergency and call 911.
Who is at risk?
The CDC says it's hard to predict. Children are as susceptible as adults, and people over 50 have slightly less risk. Fitness and training don't change your odds, according to the CDC. How you reacted to altitude on an earlier trip is the best guide, if the height and speed were similar.
What does the CDC suggest about getting used to the height?
Go up in steps. The CDC says the body does its main adjusting in the first three to five days at altitude. Spending two or three nights at 8,000 to 9,000 feet before going higher is "markedly protective," it says. It also says to avoid respiratory depressants, including alcohol and opiates as sleep aids. And if you have compromised lung function, be careful and talk with your own doctor. This page isn't medical advice.
One more CDC point: sleep gets worse up high. Above roughly 9,000 feet, the CDC says periodic breathing becomes nearly universal and can interrupt sleep. That's higher than Durango, but it's in range for a night at the ski area.
Where do you go for care in Durango?
For an emergency, call 911. Mercy Hospital's emergency department at 1010 Three Springs Blvd is open 24/7, and so is the ER at Animas Surgical Hospital. Our answers on which hospital is in Durango and urgent care in Durango have addresses, phones and hours.