This Lesser-known Colorado Ski Resort Has Apres Hot Spring Pools-and Lift Tickets Starting at $9

"Purgatory's outrageously cheap lift tickets are what brought me and a gaggle of deal-hungry friends to the resort. And if you're thinking the skiing has got to be subpar, keep reading. Purgatory, or "Purg" as locals call it, has 11 lifts, 107 named trails, and multiple terrain parks, accounting for 1,600 acres of skiable terrain. It's got excellent tree skiing and a rolling-hill-roller-coaster vibe that's playful and, at times, just the right amount of scary."

"Theresa Blake Graven, a longtime Durango resident and co-owner of Treehouse Communications, which represents Purgatory Resort, said, "If there's one thing Durango loves more than its quirky independence, it's access to nature." And Purgatory is one of Durango's largest natural playgrounds-independently owned, family-friendly, and devoid of the Epic and Ikon crowd. Plus, there's a natural hot springs right down the road."

Purgatory Resort in Durango, Colorado offers exceptionally low, dynamically priced lift tickets, with earlier booking lowering cost. The resort features 11 lifts, 107 named trails, multiple terrain parks, and 1,600 acres of skiable terrain, including strong tree skiing and a playful rolling-hill character. Local residents reclaimed the Purgatory name after a contested renaming. The resort is independently owned, family-friendly, and attracts fewer Epic and Ikon pass visitors. A natural hot springs lies nearby. Typical season runs mid-November through April, with January through March as prime months and weekends and holidays as busiest times.

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