Alpine Slide Durango: Plan the Perfect Purgatory Summer Day
The alpine slide near Durango is at Purgatory Resort, 25 miles north of downtown on US-550. It is more than half a mile of dual-track concrete on the San Juan mountainside, rider-controlled, and open daily starting June 20, 2026. Here is how to time it right and build a full day around it.
TL;DR
Purgatory's alpine slide is a genuine thrill that works for ages 3 and up, runs daily June 20 through August 16, 2026 starting at 10am, and is best done early to beat the San Juan afternoon storms. Buy the $49 adult 5 Activity Pack to pair the slide with the mountain coaster and save over single tickets. Arrive by 10am, ride first, eat second.
What Is the Alpine Slide Near Durango?
Purgatory Resort sits in the San Juan Mountains 25 miles north of downtown Durango, and its alpine slide is the only one in the immediate area. You ride Lift 4 partway up the mountain, then hop into a wheeled sled on parallel concrete tracks that run more than half a mile down the hillside through banked turns and open straightaways. A hand lever controls your speed: push forward to let gravity do the work, pull back to slow or stop.
The ride lasts two to four minutes depending on how hard you pin the throttle. First-timers tend to be cautious on lap one and reckless on lap two. Both approaches are valid.
For a deeper look at the ride mechanics, see our full alpine slide guide.
How Much Does the Alpine Slide Cost?
As of summer 2026, the official Purgatory ticket prices are:
- Single Activity Ticket: $20 per scan (one ride on any activity)
- 5 Activity Pack, Adult: $49
- 5 Activity Pack, Child (9 and under): $39
The 5-pack is the smart move for almost every group. Five slides at the single-ticket rate runs $100; the 5-pack brings that down to $49 while also covering the mountain coaster, scenic chairlift, Twilight Lake, and treasure panning in any combination you want. Extra rides can be added at the base of Lift 4 for $10 each once you have a pack in hand.
Tickets are valid all summer, so a weather cancellation does not void your purchase. If the slide closes mid-day, you come back another day or shift to a covered activity.
For a full breakdown of what each activity delivers for the money, see our Purgatory summer activities value guide.
When Does the Alpine Slide Open in 2026?
- Daily: June 20 through August 16
- Weekends only (Saturday and Sunday): August 22 through October 4
- Labor Day (Monday, September 7): also open
Hours run 10am to 5pm, though the ticket office effectively closes around 4pm since the chair ride up takes time after scanning. Everything operates weather permitting, which makes arrival timing critical (see below).
What Time Should I Arrive to Beat the Rain?
This is the single most important planning detail, and most first-timers miss it entirely. The NOAA forecast for the Durango area consistently shows afternoon thunderstorm chances from late June through August. At elevation in the San Juans, those storms build fast and the slide shuts down when they arrive. After rain, the concrete needs time to dry before the resort reopens it.
The strategy is simple: target 10am opening. Get two or three laps done by noon while the sky is clear. Grab lunch at the base. If the afternoon stays clear, great, you can keep riding. If it storms at 1pm, you have already finished your riding and can pivot to the mountain coaster inside or head down to Durango.
Can Kids Ride the Alpine Slide?
Yes, and the age range is wide. Per Purgatory's official guidelines:
- Children 3 years and older who are at least 36 inches tall can ride with an adult
- Kids 6 years and older who are at least 48 inches tall can ride solo
- Maximum combined weight (driver plus passenger) is 300 lbs
- Closed-toe shoes are recommended for all riders
The chairlift ride up is genuinely part of the experience for young kids. The views of the San Juan Mountains and the valley floor below are striking, and the ascent itself tends to get little ones amped up before the slide even starts.
What Else Is There to Do at Purgatory in Summer?
The slide runs alongside four other activities on the same 5-pack ticket system:
- Inferno Mountain Coaster: A rail coaster with a hand brake that winds through banked descents and tree-lined curves at speed. Kids 9 and under ride as passengers with a driver 16 or older.
- Scenic Chairlift Rides: Views without the adrenaline. Good for anyone who wants the mountain perspective without committing to a fast descent.
- Twilight Lake: Stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats at the lake near the base.
- Treasure Panning: Gold panning for younger kids who want something hands-on at ground level.
If your group splits between sliders and riders, Purgatory's lift-served bike park runs parallel to the slide area. See our Purgatory mountain biking guide for trail difficulty breakdowns and rentals.
How Do I Get from Durango to the Alpine Slide?
Purgatory sits just off US-550 heading north from Durango. The drive covers roughly 25 miles and takes 35 to 45 minutes depending on summer traffic through the Animas Valley. The road climbs steadily from Durango at 6,512 feet into open mountain terrain. Construction zones on US-550 occasionally add short delays; check CDOT's cotrip.org for current conditions before heading out.
No car? Check with Purgatory directly about their shuttle program from Durango on peak summer weekends.
What Should I Do Before and After the Slide?
Before: Start in Durango
Oscar's Cafe on Main Avenue opens early and serves the kind of breakfast burritos that set up a physical morning well. Eat before 9am and you can be on the road to Purgatory with time to park before the 10am opening.
If you need gear or want to ask a local about current trail conditions, Mountain Bike Specialists on the south end of town has been fitting Durango riders for decades and is worth a five-minute stop.
After: Refuel in Durango
Animas Brewing Company downtown has a solid tap list and an outdoor patio that works perfectly for a late afternoon debrief. Local craft pints, no pretense.
If the group still has energy after a day at elevation, Mountain Waters Rafting runs Animas River trips from easy family floats to technical whitewater. A mellow evening float is a good counterpoint to a morning of speed.
For a completely different flavor of Durango, consider booking the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad on a separate day. The full Silverton round trip runs nearly three hours each way through the Animas Gorge. Combining it with a Purgatory day is a solid two-day Durango itinerary.
Is the Alpine Slide Worth the Trip from Durango?
For families with kids between roughly 4 and 14: yes, without hesitation. The 45-minute drive is scenic, the resort is friendly and accessible, and the 5-pack format builds a genuine half-day of activity without overcomplicating the logistics.
For adults traveling without kids: it depends on what you came to Durango for. If the goal is wilderness hiking or technical trail running in the San Juans, the slide will feel tame. If the trip is a mix of outdoor adventure and just having fun in the mountains, it earns its slot.
Local's Take
We have watched guests make the Purgatory slide run in every combination imaginable: perfect days, rained-out days, "we got one lap and it started hailing" days. The pattern is consistent. People who show up at 10am, buy the 5-pack, and do the mountain coaster back-to-back with the slide leave happy every time. People who roll in at noon hoping for a long afternoon get caught by the weather. The San Juans will do that. Go early, stack your activities, and let the storm be someone else's problem.
