Known as one of the ultimate ski resort destinations in the state of Colorado, the little town of Vail is located in Eagle County and has a population of just over 5,000 people. Home to the Vail Ski Resort, which is the largest single mountain ski resort in Colorado and the third largest of its kind in all of the United States, Vail is well-known as a highly popular tourist and recreational area.

Vail has an elevation of 8,022 feet

Vail has an elevation of 8,022 feet

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The elevation of a place is a measurement of how high it is compared to sea level. The town of Vail has an elevation of 8,022 feet (2,445 m), which is very high and means that Vail is even higher than another of Colorado’s popular ski resort towns, Aspen, which stands at an elevation of around 8,000 feet (2,400 m). The Vail Ski Resort, meanwhile, has a minimum elevation of 8,120 feet (2,470 m) and reaches a high point of 11,570 feet (3,527 m). Due to its mountainous location, Vail is one of the highest towns in all of Colorado and is much higher than the vast majority of towns and cities all around the United States.

Elevation of Vail

Elevation of Vail

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Due to its high elevation, Vail has different conditions than many low-lying areas. Temperatures get colder as altitude rises, and changes in air pressure can also affect visitors to the area. If you spend much of the year in an area of relatively low elevation and are planning a trip to Vail, you’ll need to be prepared for the sudden change in conditions. Wrapping up warm is essential, along with staying hydrated at all times and monitoring alcohol intake, as the effects of alcohol are more potent at high elevations and altitudes.

Vail Elevation Compared to other cities

Vail Elevation Compared to other cities

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The state of Colorado is actually the highest in the entire United States on average, with a mean elevation of 6,800 feet (2,070 m), so Vail is higher than the mean elevation of Colorado and higher than many other major cities like Denver, which has an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,609.344 m); Aurora, which has an elevation of 5472 feet (1,668 m); and Colorado Springs, which has an elevation of 6,033 feet (1,839 m). It is not, however, the city with the highest elevation in the state; that honor belongs to the town of Leadville, which is located in the Rocky Mountains and has an elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 m), making it the highest town or city in America.