Unique to Colorado, and perhaps the world, Purgatory Resort (formerly known as Durango Mountain Resort) offers unsurpassed natural beauty, enhanced by the gracious warmth of its people. It's an intriguing place, where the history of the Wild West and fanciful Victorian times bestows upon the resort, and the neighboring town of Durango, an incomparable character.
Established in 1965, Purgatory Resort is a ski resort located in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, 25 miles (42 km) north of the town of Durango. The resort enjoys mild winter temperatures, with even January days averaging in the upper 20s.
Terrain and Snow Conditions
Purgatory offers 105 trails, including 5 terrain parks, over 1,500 skiable acres, and 12 lifts, including one six-person and two high-speed quad lifts. Purgatory's snow preservation is excellent because it’s over half north facing and ski elevation is 8,800 - 10,800 feet. Surfaces are mostly packed powder to late March, and into April on some of the higher slopes.
The average annual snowfall is 260 inches per year, and artificial snow is produced on approximately one-fifth of the mountain. Purgatory averages 80+% open at Christmas due to moderate terrain not needing as much coverage as many places.
Purgatory's snow record is below average in Colorado. 10.4% of winter days with 6 inches or more of snow is middle of the pack for western destinations, while 7% of months with 90 inches or more and 31% of months with 30 inches or less are worse than average. Snow density as in most of Colorado is as light as it gets.
Read also: Explore Blackcomb Peak
Snowfall Data
Here's a summary of Purgatory's snowfall characteristics:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Annual Snowfall | 260 inches |
| Winter Days with 6+ Inches of Snow | 10.4% |
| Months with 90+ Inches of Snow | 7% |
| Months with 30- Inches of Snow | 31% |
Where To Stay When Skiing Purgatory? - The Winter Sport Xpert
Facilities and Amenities
Facilities at the resort include condos that are rented out by their owners to vacationing tourists, a nightclub/bar at the bottom of the ski slopes by the chair lifts, a shuttle that goes back and forth from the resort to the nearby town of Durango, and a ski school with "bunny slopes". One of the more unusual features of the resort is an urgent care clinic, staffed by midlevel health care providers from the nearby town of Durango, Colorado. The on-site urgent care clinic is available anytime the slopes are open, and treats mostly ski related injuries.
Climate
Purgatory Resort has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), closely bordering on a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc). Cascade and Rockwood 6.9 NNW are weather stations located near Purgatory Resort.
Plan Your Trip
Projected opening date Nov 28, 2025Projected closing date Apr 19, 2026.
Black Diamond Lodge Plan your wedding, family reunion, or ski adventure at the Black Diamond Lodge between Durango and Silverton with shuttle service to Purgatory Ski Resort.