How high is Boulder?

Boulder sits at 5,328 ft (1,624 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits below Colorado’s average of 6,867 ft (2,093 m) — on the lower side for the state, with about 67% of Colorado higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Boulder, Colorado area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Boulder, from our satellite elevation model. Boulder is marked at 5,328 ft (1,624 m); the highest ground in view reaches 14,183 ft (4,323 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Boulder in Colorado

Here’s the useful context: Boulder, at 5,328 ft (1,624 m), sits roughly 1,539 ft (469 m) below Colorado’s average elevation of 6,867 ft (2,093 m). Despite its reputation it’s on the lower side for its state — our model puts about 67% of Colorado’s land higher than the city.

3,333 ft — Colorado low▲ Boulder 5,328 ft · avg 6,867 ft ┈14,416 ft — Colorado high

The terrain around Boulder

Across this view the land rises toward the west. The eastern third of the frame averages about 5,105 ft (1,556 m); the western third about 10,039 ft (3,060 m) — a climb of roughly 4,934 ft (1,504 m), topping out near 14,183 ft (4,323 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Boulder sits against.

You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.

What Boulder’s altitude means

High-altitude medicine marks about ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) as the line where thin air starts to cause real trouble, and Boulder, at 5,328 ft (1,624 m), sits comfortably below it. You won’t get altitude sickness just by arriving. But this is high enough that many people notice something on the first day.

The air is meaningfully thinner than at the coast, so expect a quicker pulse, a little breathlessness on stairs, and faster dehydration in dry air — and alcohol tends to hit harder. None of it is dangerous at this elevation; it just rewards drinking more water and taking the first evening easy.

How Boulder compares

Among Colorado’s larger cities, Boulder is ranked #6 of 11 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it right around Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Colorado Springs — 6,020 ft (1,835 m)
Montrose — 5,814 ft (1,772 m)
Cañon City — 5,361 ft (1,634 m)
Boulder — 5,328 ft (1,624 m)
Denver — 5,285 ft (1,611 m)
Fort Collins — 5,010 ft (1,527 m)
Pueblo — 4,678 ft (1,426 m)

Boulder elevation FAQ

How high is Boulder?: Boulder’s elevation is about 5,328 ft (1,624 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Boulder high or low for Colorado?: On the low side. At 5,328 ft (1,624 m) it sits below Colorado’s average of 6,867 ft (2,093 m), with about 67% of the state higher.
Does Boulder’s altitude affect visitors?: Mildly. At 5,328 ft (1,624 m) it’s below the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line where altitude sickness usually begins, but the thinner, drier air can still bring a faster pulse and quicker dehydration on the first day.

Explore more

↑ Colorado’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
· Blog: Average Elevation by State — where Colorado’s 6,867 ft (2,093 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Boulder’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Colorado figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 210 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-17.