The Alpine Slide at Purgatory: Everything You Need to Know
The alpine slide at Purgatory is one of those activities that sounds simple — sit on a wheeled sled, ride down a concrete track on the mountainside — but in practice it's an absolute blast. At over half a mile long (roughly 2,300 feet), it's one of the longest alpine slides in Colorado and a must-do summer activity if you're visiting Durango with kids. Or without kids. Honestly, adults have just as much fun.
How It Works
You start by riding Lift 4 partway up the mountain. It's a scenic ride with views of the San Juan Mountains spreading out in all directions. Once you reach the top of the slide, you hop on a small wheeled sled — basically a bucket seat on a plastic chassis with a hand-operated brake lever.
The track is dual-lane concrete that winds down the mountain through banked turns and straightaways. The hand lever is simple: pull back to slow down or stop, push forward to let gravity do its thing. How fast you go is entirely up to you. Some people cruise the whole way down enjoying the views. Others pin it on every straightaway and come flying into the turns like they're qualifying for something.
Who Can Ride
Kids as young as 3 years old can ride as long as they're at least 36 inches tall and riding with an adult. Kids 6+ who are at least 48 inches tall can ride solo, which is usually when it gets really fun for them — that first run without a parent is a rite of passage.
The maximum combined weight for a sled is 300 pounds, so most adult-child combos are fine. Single riders obviously need to stay under that limit too.
Safety and Speed
The alpine slide is safe. The track is well-maintained, the braking system works reliably, and you're in full control of your speed the entire time. That said, you can definitely get going fast enough to feel a rush — the straightaways let you build real momentum if you're not riding the brakes.
The turns are banked to help keep you on course, but you do need to slow down for them, especially the first time. I've seen people come into turns way too hot and end up scraping the side rails (the sled won't flip or anything, but it's jarring and ruins your flow).
Closed-toe shoes are recommended (flip-flops are a bad idea). Long pants are smart too — the sled edges can scrape bare legs on the turns if you're not careful. And bring sunscreen for the chairlift ride up. It's exposed and you're sitting there for a solid 5-10 minutes.
Best Time to Go
Morning is the move. Lines build up by midday, especially in July and August when families are in town and the weather's perfect. If you can get there right when they open at 10:00 AM, you'll get multiple runs in before the crowds arrive.
Weekday mornings are even better. Weekends during peak summer (mid-June through mid-August) can mean waits of 30-45 minutes during the busiest stretches. Not unbearable, but enough to make you wish you'd shown up earlier.
Tips for Maximum Fun
Don't ride the brakes the whole way down. The straightaways are where the fun is — let the sled run and feel the speed. You can always slow down before the next turn.
If you're riding with a young kid, let them control the brake lever (if they're old enough). It gives them agency and makes the ride way more exciting for them. Just be ready to reach over and slow down if they misjudge a turn.
Go more than once. The first run is about figuring out the track and the brake system. The second and third runs are when you start optimizing your line and really pushing the speed.
Watch the sleds ahead of you. If someone's going slow, give them space before you launch. You don't want to come screaming into a turn and find someone parked in front of you.
The Full Summer Package
The alpine slide is part of a larger summer activity setup at the base area. You can also do:
- Inferno Mountain Coaster — a faster, more intense ride than the alpine slide (worth doing both)
- Scenic Chairlift Rides — Lift 4 takes you up for mountain views without the slide
- Treasure Panning — gold panning for kids
- Twilight Lake Board & Boat — paddleboarding on the mountain lake
Single activities are $20 each, or you can get a summer 5-pack day ticket (adult $49, child $39) that covers multiple activities. If you're planning to do the alpine slide, mountain coaster, and a scenic lift ride, the day pass is the better value.
Summer Operating Schedule
For 2025, Purgatory's summer season runs:
- Daily: June 14 – August 17 (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
- Weekends only: August 23 – October 5 (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday-Sunday plus Labor Day Monday September 1)
Hours are weather-dependent, so if there's a storm rolling through or conditions are sketchy, they'll close early or not open at all. Call (970) 385-2168 the morning of your visit if you're unsure.
Why It's Worth It
The alpine slide is one of those simple, classic summer activities that's been around forever but never gets old. It's not high-tech. There are no VR goggles or elaborate theming. It's just a concrete track, gravity, and a hand brake. But that simplicity is exactly why it works.
Kids love it because they're in control and it feels fast. Adults love it because, surprise, it actually is fast if you let it be. And everyone loves that it's outside in the mountains with incredible views and fresh air.
If you're staying at one of our properties — Basecamp or Timberline — you're less than 10 minutes from the resort base area. It's an easy morning activity before hiking or an afternoon stop after exploring Durango. Both places have full kitchens and hot tubs, so you can come back, make dinner, and soak after a full day on the mountain.
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