Elevation at Old Faithful, and Altitude Sickness in Yellowstone
Old Faithful sits at 7,349 feet. Most of Yellowstone lies between 6,200 and 8,900 feet, low enough that altitude sickness is far less common here than in the Colorado high country, but it still happens, mostly to people who fly in from near sea level and start hiking hard on day one. Dunraven Pass, the highest point on any road in the park, tops out at 8,859 feet. Our Yellowstone 3-day itinerary paces the drive so you are not climbing straight to the highest stops on your first afternoon.
Yellowstone Elevation by Location
| Location | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Reese Creek, lowest point in the park | 5,282 feet |
| Mammoth Hot Springs, north entrance area | around 6,200 feet |
| West Yellowstone, west entrance town | 6,667 feet |
| Old Faithful | 7,349 feet |
| Yellowstone Lake | 7,732 feet |
| Dunraven Pass, highest road point | 8,859 feet |
| Mount Washburn summit (via trail) | 10,219 feet |
| Eagle Peak, highest point in the park | 11,358 feet |
The range matters more than any single number. If you fly into Bozeman or Jackson from sea level and drive straight to Old Faithful, you are already 7,349 feet up before you have acclimatized at all, and a hike up Mount Washburn or a stop at Dunraven Pass adds another 2,000 to 3,000 feet on top of that.
Altitude Sickness in Yellowstone: Who Actually Gets It
Altitude sickness starts to show up above about 8,000 feet for most people, and it has nothing to do with fitness. Fit hikers who push hard on day one are often more likely to feel it than someone who takes it slow, because speed of ascent matters more than physical condition. Inside Yellowstone, the places most likely to trigger symptoms are the higher trails and overlooks: Mount Washburn, Dunraven Pass, and the Beartooth Highway approach from the northeast, which climbs above 10,000 feet before it even reaches the park boundary.
- Most visitors feel nothing. Old Faithful, Mammoth, and the geyser basins sit low enough that the average visitor walking the boardwalks has no symptoms.
- People arriving straight from low elevation are at more risk. Chicago, Houston, Miami, or a coastal flight into Bozeman or Jackson followed by an immediate hike is the classic setup for a headache on day one.
- Older visitors and anyone with a heart or lung condition should plan a slower first day. Ask your own doctor before the trip if you have a history of heart, lung, or sleep problems.
- Alcohol and heavy exertion on arrival night make it worse. Your body is already working to adjust; a hard hike or a few drinks the first evening adds to the load.
The Symptoms to Watch For
Acute Mountain Sickness is the common, mild form: a headache plus nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or poor sleep, usually starting six to twelve hours after you gain elevation. It feels like a hangover and it is your signal to slow down, not push higher. It is not dangerous by itself, but it can progress if you keep climbing instead of resting.
The two rare, serious forms both mean the same thing: stop and go down. Breathlessness at rest, a persistent cough, or chest tightness can be high-altitude pulmonary edema. Loss of coordination, confusion, or a severe headache that does not respond to rest can be high-altitude cerebral edema. For a full breakdown of all three forms and how to acclimatize before a bigger climb, see our guide to preventing altitude sickness.
How to Handle It on a Yellowstone Trip
- Spend your first night low if you can. West Yellowstone (6,667 feet) or Gardiner at the north entrance are both lower than Old Faithful or the lake.
- Save Dunraven Pass and Mount Washburn for day two or three, not the afternoon you land.
- Drink more water than feels necessary and go easy on alcohol the first night.
- Slow down on any uphill trail if you notice a headache starting. Turning around costs you an hour. Pushing through costs you the rest of the trip.
See a Doctor If
See a doctor before you go if you have a heart, lung, or sleep condition and you are planning a hike above 9,000 feet. On the trip, get medical help right away, and descend while you do it, if anyone has breathlessness at rest, a cough that will not stop, confusion, or trouble walking in a straight line. Those are not symptoms to wait out.
Plan the Trip Around It
Tell us your dates and who is coming and we will pace the itinerary so the big elevation gains land on day two or three, not day one. Planning is free, and we earn only if you book through us.
Elevation at Old Faithful, and Altitude Sickness in Yellowstone FAQs
7,349 feet above sea level. It is one of the lower developed areas in Yellowstone, well below Dunraven Pass (8,859 feet) and Mount Washburn's summit (10,219 feet).
Yes, though it is less common than in the Colorado high country because most of the park sits between 6,200 and 8,900 feet. Risk rises on the higher trails and roads, like Mount Washburn and Dunraven Pass, especially if you arrive from near sea level and start hiking right away.
Eagle Peak, at 11,358 feet, in the remote southeast corner of the park. The highest point most visitors actually reach is Dunraven Pass on the road, at 8,859 feet, or the Mount Washburn summit trail at 10,219 feet.
Most of it, yes. Denver sits at 5,280 feet, while Old Faithful is at 7,349 feet and Yellowstone Lake at 7,732 feet. The park's lowest point, Reese Creek, is 5,282 feet, almost exactly Denver's elevation.
A headache plus nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or poor sleep, usually starting six to twelve hours after you gain elevation. Breathlessness at rest, a persistent cough, confusion, or loss of coordination are signs of the rare, serious forms and mean you should descend and get medical help.
Most visitors do not feel anything at 7,349 feet. The real risk in Yellowstone is on the higher stops, Mount Washburn and Dunraven Pass, especially on your first day after flying in from low elevation.
Yes. The worked day-by-day plan is Yellowstone Itinerary: 3 Days on the Grand Loop (3 Days), with the permits, the stays and the drive times already sorted. Tell us your dates and we will put it together for you and confirm what is genuinely open on those days. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
