Purgatory Ski Deals & Travel Info
Purgatory is a locals’ mountain located 20 minutes north of the small southwestern town of Durango. It has a chill atmosphere and a lack of lift lines. With over 2,000 feet of vertical and 105 trails, Purgatory is not a small mountain, but it is not as big as some of the major resorts. It is a great place for Durangoans to spend their weekends. Also, with the Durango airport nearby, Purgatory is a great travel destination for those looking for a unique, laid-back Colorado ski experience without adding to your travel hassles.
When it comes to CO ski resorts, we rate Purgatory somewhere in the middle, just sort of hovering between the best and worst.
Purgatory Ski Resort Highlights
Purgatory has a good reputation among locals and here are a few of the highlights.
- Located directly north of Durango
- Family-friendly and positive atmosphere
- Wide variety of terrain
- Very few lift lines
- Lodging and resort amenities available
Getting to Purgatory
From Durango, take Highway 550 heading north. Purgatory is on the left as you approach the base of Coal Bank Pass. The mountain is located about 45 minutes to the south of Silverton, and to get here from there, you can just head south on Rt. 550.
Purgatory, CO FAQ
Advanced skiers can have fun at Purgatory, however, it does lack any serious, sustained, challenging terrain.
Purgatory may seem like it is located in the middle of nowhere, but it is a straight shot from Durango. With the Durango airport offering flights to Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, and more, the ski resort is easily accessible from anywhere in the US.
No, Purgatory doesn’t have night skiing, but if you are looking for night skiing in the area, check out the nearby Hesperus Ski Area.
Purgatory Resort has some of the lightest crowds for a mountain of its size. There are usually hardly any lift lines.
Durango is home to the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It often doesn’t run the whole way to Silverton in the winter, but nevertheless it is a breathtaking experience to ride an old school locomotive through the San Juan Mountains.
Tips for Skiing & Riding Purgatory
Traverse all the way to the back for expert skiing. Head to the Legends Express lift (Chair #8). It will take two chairlifts to get here with a lot of traversing, but there is good skiing in the back. Paul’s Park is a good run that is located right off of the #8 lift. You’ll be in the woods here, but the trees are spaced out considerably. For tighter tree skiing, you can head to Hoody’s and Mccormack’s Maze on the Skier’s left off of Chair #8.
Check out Mark’s Park. This is an intermediate run through the woods on the front side of Purgatory. This has logs set up as rail features throughout the run.