Purgatory

About Our Mountain and Our Lifts

Purgatory is unique in that we have three distinct sections of the mountain, the front side, the middle, and the back side. Each section has green (beginner), blue (intermediate) and black (expert) runs. The front side has green, blue and black terrain, the middle is predominantly blue, and the back side is predominantly blue and black. Our lifts are listed below by number and name, along with their on-mountain location.

Front Side
Lift 1  Purgatory Village Express – High Speed 6-Passenger Express
Lift 2 Engineer (takes you from mid-mountain to the top of the frontside)
Lift 4 Twilight (can be loaded at midway location or from the base area)
Lift 6 Needles
Lift 10 Magic Carpet (in the base area next to Lift 4)

Middle-Mountain
Lift 3  Hermosa Park Express – High Speed Quad

Back Side
Lift 5 Grizzly
Lift 8  Legends (can load at the bottom or mid-mountain*)

Columbine Beginner Area
Lift 7  The Graduate
Lift 9  Columbine

*You can load (but not unload) the lift mid-way up the mountain, without having to ski/ride all the way to the bottom.

What’s the best…

…spot for an on-mountain picnic?
Between Boogie and Peace, middle of the mountain off Lift 3.

…spot for a family photo that’ll make everyone back home jealous?
At the top of Paradise, on the front side off Lift 1, with views as far as the eye can see.

…family run with young kids?
Sa’s Psyche to Animas City, then Westfork to the Bank, on the front side off Lift 1.

…learning to jump and ride rails?
Pinkerton Starter Park located below midway on Lift 4.

…groomed run?
Boogie, middle of the mountain off Lift 3.

…bump run?
Lower Hades, on the front side off Lift 1, or Wapiti, on the back side off Lift 5 or 8.

…steep skiing?
Lower Bull Run accessed off Lift 3, 5 or 8.

…run for tree skiing?
The Ambassadors Glade, on the front side off Lift 1, or McCormack’s Maze, on the back side off Lift 8.

… expert (black) run?
Styx, on the back side off Lift 5 or 8.

… roller coaster skiing experience?
 Upper Hades, on the front side off Lift 1.

… place to watch people catching some air?
Pitchfork Terrain Park, below the Powderhouse off Lift 1 or 2.

…way to find out about what else we think is best?
Ask any employee, or stop by Guest Services in the Ticket Office in Purgatory Lodge. We’re always happy to talk about Purgatory and share our favorites with you!