Purgatory Resort
Purgatory Resort is a ski and snowboard resort in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado located between 8,800 and 10,800 feet in elevation. The resort spans about 1,600 acres of skiable terrain with over 100 trails for all skill levels, modern chairlifts, and three terrain parks with different freestyle features.
The resort was founded in 1965 and developed into a well-known winter sports destination over more than 60 years. In 2015 it returned to its original name Purgatory after being called Durango Mountain Resort for many years.
The name Purgatory comes from a late 1800s story about a farmer who named a nearby creek after the 'River of Lost Souls' because explorers lost people there long ago. This local history gives the place its own character and identity.
The resort is about one hour from the town of Durango and the regional airport and is accessible by shuttle buses from there, though this can be expensive for small groups. The elevation between 8,800 and 10,800 feet can cause fatigue or mild altitude sickness symptoms, so visitors should drink plenty of water and rest well, especially if they are not used to high elevations.
The resort operates the largest snowcat skiing operation in Colorado, taking visitors into large off-limits snow areas outside the regular trails. This activity provides experienced skiers and snowboarders with a completely different experience in untouched terrain with far more space to explore.
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