Purgatory Resort
Ski resort · La Plata County
1 Skier Pl, Durango, CO 81301
Highlights
Affordable family ski resort with varied terrain & summer rides
Affordable family ski resort with varied terrain & summer rides
"I see Purgatory listed among the 19 Colorado mountains included in Colorado Ski Country USA's expanded Ski Passport for kindergarten through sixth grade; the passport provides four ski days at each participating resort, includes two junior rental packages, and costs $67 for K–2 or $72 for grades 3–6, making these mountains well-suited for younger skiers while also being great spots for adults and ideal for a family ski getaway." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An independently owned, budget-friendly mountain with roughly 1,600 acres of terrain, multiple snow parks, and nearby natural hot springs. It’s known for extremely affordable lift tickets (starting as low as $9 based on demand) and a kid-friendly policy where children under 12 always ski free; on-site childcare (The Den) accepts youngsters up to age four. Lodging at the base offers classic ski amenities—lockers and a heated pool—without hefty resort fees, and nearby Durango provides low-cost dining and memorable evening activities like the Polar Express train ride." - Lydia Price Lydia Price Lydia Price is a senior engagement editor at Travel + Leisure, where she hosts short-form videos and leads content engagement initiatives. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Named the most affordable in a late-2024 study commissioned by Casino.org (which began with a seed list of 20 highest-rated ski resorts from On The Snow and scraped one-day lift-ticket, equipment-rental, average nightly accommodation, average meal, and half-day group-lesson pricing), the study lists typical costs of $95 for a single-day pass, $75 for rentals, $29 for meals and drinks, $149 for a half-day lesson, and accommodations averaging $200 per night — yielding a study total of $548 per day (about 69 percent less than the most expensive mountain in the study, Aspen Snowmass, at nearly $1,800 per day). The report notes that "the biggest savings came with accommodations." As Travel + Leisure correspondent Evie Carrick wrote in 2024, "tickets at the mountain actually start from just $9, and the variable pricing system means the earlier you buy, the lower the cost will be." Despite the budget-friendly pricing, the mountain offers substantial infrastructure and terrain: 11 lifts, 107 named trails, multiple terrain parks, and roughly 1,600 acres of skiable terrain." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Named the most affordable destination in the Casino.org study, with daily costs calculated at $548—about 69 percent less than the study’s most expensive resort." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A budget-friendly mountain near Durango that appeals to families, this resort advertises very low starting lift prices and a Power Kids Season Pass program that gives children under 12 complimentary access at multiple partner resorts and bike-park privileges in summer. Lodging options span condos and large home rentals, including multi-bedroom properties with full kitchens, scenic views, and private hot tubs for unwinding after a day on the slopes." - Brandon Perlman Brandon Perlman Brandon Perlman (also known as Mr. Luxury Ski) is one of the world’s foremost experts on luxury travel, specifically the upper echelons of ski, alpine culture, and outdoor lifestyle. Brandon has been an editor at notable publications like Departures. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
