Purgatory Ski Resort Colorado

Purgatory Resort has had some name changes back and forth over the years. Nevertheless, the name “Purgatory” is far from apt, as skiing there could never be considered as a place of temporary punishment, torment or suffering! Purgatory Ski Resort Durango is a good all-rounder that’s very family friendly. Whilst you might not get the glam and celebrity sightings akin to the big Colorado ski resorts, the plus is that you don’t get the massive crowds or big price tags.

Pros and Cons of Purgatory Colorado

Pros 

• Purgatory is ideal for families and better yet, kids 12 years old or younger ski free with the Power Kids pass.
• A Purgatory ski vacation is reasonably priced relative to the big name Colorado ski resorts, and if you stay in Durango then it’s very inexpensive.
• The ski area is very well suited to beginners and intermediates, with an abundance of big long cruisers.
• Purgatory Colorado has good terrain parks and a half-pipe.
• There are lots of nearby activities including the very interesting Mesa Verde.
• You can go cat skiing in a large area adjacent to the Purgatory Ski Resort.

Cons

• Purgatory Durango doesn’t receive as much snowfall as some of the nearby ski areas. On the plus side, Purgatory is renowned for plenty of blue ski days so you can work on your goggle tan.
• The resort has put a lot of effort into expanding tree zones, but there is still limited variety for experts and no alpine terrain.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

• Hopefully you like moguls because there are often a lot of them at Purgatory Resort, even in the trees, and the snowfalls are not significant enough to eliminate the bumps.
• Purgatory is very family oriented so it’s no great surprise that nightlife at the resort is very low key. If you stay in downtown Durango then it’s entirely a different matter.

Purgatory Ski and Snowboard Terrain

The reputation of Purgatory Ski Resort is that of a mountain that is mainly suited to beginners and intermediates. Whilst 35% of the trails are rated as black or double black, the majority of these are bumps runs, plus there are some heavily gladed areas. The ski area is completely below the tree line so there are no alpine bowls.

Purgatory (formerly Durango Mountain Resort) is particularly fabulous for strong intermediate skiers and boarders, and one of the stand-out characteristics of the ski area is the many terraces, rollers and banks. Some of the runs feel like a mini boarder cross course or a rollercoaster, and it’s fantastic to catch air off some of the lips (so long as that’s your intention!). Twin-tippers will also enjoy the terrain parks and the halfpipe.

The 1,605 acres of ski terrain at Purgatory Resort is serviced by 11 lifts including one high speed 6-person lift and 2 high speed quad chairs.

Purgatory Snow

Purgatory Resort receives a respectable 260 inches (6.6 metres) of annual snowfall on average, but this is measly in comparison to nearby Wolf Creek (430 inches) and Silverton (400 inches). The elevation of the resort is also somewhat lower than its neighbors and most other Colorado ski resorts, which is great for those that suffer from altitude sickness. About 15 percent of the terrain has snow making capabilities.

Where is Purgatory Colorado?

Purgatory is hidden away in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado in the four corners area. The Purgatory ski resort is 27 miles (about a 30 minute drive) north of the town of Durango, and there are shuttles between the town and resort.

Durango has its own airport, the La Plata County Airport, with flights from hubs such as Denver, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. See the how to get to Purgatory page for more information.

Purgatory Lodging

Purgatory Resort has a range of lodging options including condos, vacation homes and a hotel. Purgatory Resort lodging can be expensive, yet there’s good value lodging down the road or the other option is to stay in the historic town of Durango where there are a range of hotels as well as lots of very inexpensive motels.

Purgatory Accommodations Listings

Durango Hotel Listings

Activities

Durango is a college town so it’s got plenty of life with great pubs, restaurants and shops. The ski resort has various activities such as snowmobiling with Snowmobile Adventures, snow biking, and tubing. Other Durango winter activities include museums, a soak in the Durango hot springs, a historic train ride, or a trip to the Mesa Verde National Park. The park is home to fascinating ancient native American cliff dwellings that date back more than 800 years.