Seven ski areas sit within about 2.5 hours of Durango, and six plan to run in 2026/27. Purgatory is the closest full resort, 25 miles north and about 45 minutes away. Chapman Hill is the cheapest, inside city limits with a $17 day pass for ages 18 to 61. Hesperus Ski Area, 11 miles west, has not opened since 2022-23. Below, every hill is compared on drive time, terrain, posted prices and who it suits.
All prices and dates come from each operator's own website, read in October 2026. Where a price is not posted, the table says "Not listed."
Which ski areas are near Durango, Colorado?
Here are all seven, in the order we would send a typical visitor. The drive times are our estimates from downtown Durango on dry roads. Terrain figures are the operator's own, except Telluride, which comes from Wikipedia.
| Ski area | Drive from downtown Durango | Vertical and acres | 2026/27 day ticket | Best for | Lodging nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Purgatory | 25 miles, about 45 minutes | 2,029 feet, over 1,600 acres | Not listed (dynamic pricing) | Families, intermediates, first-timers | Slopeside condos and lodges on US-550 |
| 2. Wolf Creek | 80 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours | 1,604 feet, 1,600 acres | $96 regular, $110 peak | Deep snow, powder days | Pagosa Springs or South Fork |
| 3. Telluride | 125 miles, about 2 hours 30 minutes | 4,425 feet with hike-to, about 2,000 acres | Not listed (sold online) | Advanced skiers, scenery, a resort town | Telluride and Mountain Village |
| 4. Silverton Mountain | About 55 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes | 1,900 feet lift-served, 3,887 with hiking or heli | Guided from $249, unguided from $99 | Experts with avalanche gear | Silverton |
| 5. Chapman Hill | Inside Durango city limits | 500 feet, acres not listed | $17 ages 18 to 61, $15 ages 6 to 17 | Beginners, kids, after-work skiing | Any Durango hotel |
| 6. Kendall Mountain | About 49 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes | 240 feet, 16 acres | Not yet listed (2025/26: $31 ages 19 to 64 at the window) | Toddlers and budget family days | Silverton |
| 7. Hesperus | 11 miles west, about 15 minutes | 700+ feet, 60 acres | Closed | Night skiing (when open) | Durango |
How did we rank them?
We used four criteria you can check yourself:
- Distance from Durango. Closer wins for a day of skiing.
- Terrain size. Vertical feet and acres, from the operator.
- Published price. A posted price beats "call for rates."
- Operating certainty for 2026/27. A hill with a posted schedule beats one with none.
Hesperus sits at number 7 because its chair has not turned since March 2023, not because of its terrain. Snow quality and crowds are not in the ranking. Both swing from one Saturday to the next.
When does each Durango-area ski area open in 2026/27?
Telluride and Purgatory have the earliest dates, in late November. Here is every posted or reported date.
| Ski area | 2026/27 opening | Season end | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purgatory | November 20, 2026 | Not posted | purgatory.ski |
| Telluride | November 26, 2026 (target) | April 4, 2027 | tellurideskiresort.com |
| Wolf Creek | Not announced, weather dependent | Early April typical | wolfcreekski.com |
| Kendall Mountain | December 5, 2026 (tentative) | April 4, 2027 (expected) | skikendall.com |
| Silverton Mountain | December 31, 2026 | April 11, 2027 | silvertonmountain.com |
| Chapman Hill | Not announced, snow dependent | Not posted | durangoco.gov |
| Hesperus | No 2026/27 operation announced | None | ski-hesperus.com |
Every date here depends on snow. Last winter showed how fast that can change. Chapman Hill closed for the season by March 11, 2026.
How much does a family of four pay at each ski area?
Chapman Hill is the cheapest by a wide margin. This is our math from the posted prices, for two parents and two kids for one day at the lowest standard rate.
| Ski area | Family of four, one day | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Chapman Hill | $64 | 2026/27 daily pass: $17 ages 18 to 61, $15 youth 6 to 17 |
| Kendall Mountain | $96 | 2025/26 advance rates: $28 ages 19 to 64, $20 child. 2026/27 not yet posted |
| Wolf Creek | $286 regular, $334 peak | 2026/27 posted: $96 ages 13 to 64, $47 child 6 to 12 (peak: $110, $57) |
| Purgatory | Not listed | Dynamic pricing. Kids 12 and under ski free with a Power Kids Pass |
| Telluride | Not listed | Sold online by date |
| Silverton Mountain | Not applicable | Expert terrain only, guided from $249 per person |
| Hesperus | Closed | Last posted: $48 day ticket (ages 21 to 59), $36 night |
Purgatory: the closest full resort
Purgatory is 25 miles north on US-550 and plans to open on Friday, November 20, 2026. It has over 1,600 skiable acres, 107 trails, 11 lifts and a 2,029-foot vertical drop, per the resort. Its terrain suits intermediates best. A new Colorado Couloir chairlift adds about 40 acres of advanced terrain this winter.
Purgatory posts no standard price. It sells tickets by demand, so the price rises as your date gets closer, and it advertises limited $9 tickets that include $10 in resort credit. Our Purgatory lift ticket guide breaks down the pricing, and our Purgatory lodging guide covers where to sleep.
Wolf Creek: the deep-snow day trip
Wolf Creek is the pick when snow matters most. The resort says it averages 430 inches a year, against 260 at Purgatory. The base sits at 10,300 feet. There is no lodging at the mountain, so most Durango skiers drive up for the day or stay in Pagosa Springs. The drive crosses Wolf Creek Pass, where Colorado's traction and chain laws can apply. Our full Wolf Creek guide has the ticket prices, pass rules and a day-trip schedule.
Hesperus Ski Area: is it open?
No. Hesperus last operated in the 2022-23 season and has stayed closed since. We found no announcement that it will run in 2026/27, and it is missing from the 2026/27 opening-date lists.
The problem is a broken chairlift and a lack of water. The gearbox on its only chair, the Big Horn double, failed in 2023, and the repair was reported to cost about $200,000. Its operator, Mountain Capital Partners, said in 2024 that Hesperus would stay closed until it could secure water for snowmaking. Mountain Capital Partners also runs Purgatory. Reporting by Snowbrains and Carving Skills covers the history.
Hesperus is still worth knowing about, because people still search for it. It has 26 trails on 60 acres, a summit at 8,888 feet and more than 700 feet of vertical, per its own site. It was the largest night skiing operation in the Southwest, with night skiing Thursday through Saturday. Its volunteer ski patrol is the only all-volunteer patrol in Colorado. The ski area's website still lists old prices ($48 for a day ticket at ages 21 to 59, $36 at night), but they do not apply while it is closed.
Want night skiing this winter? Chapman Hill runs weekday evenings until 8 p.m. Kendall Mountain has night sessions on select Saturdays.
Chapman Hill: Durango's in-town ski hill
Chapman Hill is a city-run ski area inside Durango, paired with an ice rink. The city describes it as 500 vertical feet with snowmaking, two rope tows, a bumps course and park features. It is built for learning, not for a big day.
The hours are made for locals: weekdays 4 to 8 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From December 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027 it runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
| Pass | Daily | 5-punch | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 18 to 61 | $17 | $68 | $130 |
| Youth (6 to 17) | $15 | $60 | $115 |
| Youth (4 to 5) | $7 | $28 | $56 |
| Senior (62 and up) | $7 | $28 | $56 |
| Age 3 and under | Free with a paying guest | Not offered | Not offered |
Prices are the city's 2026/27 rates. The hill was closed when we checked, with opening dates still to come on the city's Parks and Recreation social channels. Private lessons are $60 an hour. Two season passes at full price earn half off any extra family member. The hill allows free uphill travel outside operating hours on the perimeter road.
Kendall Mountain: Silverton's small, cheap hill
Kendall Mountain Ski Area belongs to the Town of Silverton and sits at the edge of town. Picture one double chair, four groomed trails and 240 feet of vertical spread over 16 acres, starting at 9,313 feet. Half the terrain is beginner.
The 2026/27 schedule lists a tentative December 5 opening, Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (to 5 p.m. in March), and an expected closing on April 4, 2027. Kendall runs on natural snow only. Night skiing is planned for select Saturdays: January 2, January 16 and February 13.
The site has not yet posted 2026/27 ticket prices. Last winter a ticket for ages 19 to 64 was $31 at the window, $28 in advance and $36 on holidays. Kids 5 and under ski free. For more on the town in winter, read our Silverton in winter guide, or see where to stay in Silverton.
Silverton Mountain: expert terrain only
Silverton Mountain is not a place to learn. The terrain is 100 percent advanced and expert, the easiest run is rated 35 degrees, and the resort calls itself the highest ski area in North America, with a peak at 13,487 feet. It has one double chair and no groomed runs. Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe are required.
The 2026/27 season runs in two parts, per the resort's schedule:
- Guided skiing: December 31, 2026 to March 14, 2027, Thursday through Sunday plus Presidents' Day. Guided days start at $249, or $199 in the early and late season. Groups are eight or fewer.
- Unguided skiing: March 17 to April 11, 2027, from $99 a day.
A single heli run costs $199 on top of a lift ticket. Our Silverton Mountain guide goes deeper. The mountain lists Durango as its closest big town, and says Purgatory is about 30 minutes from Silverton.
Telluride: the big resort 2.5 hours away
Telluride Ski Resort is the largest and most dramatic option on this list. Wikipedia lists about 2,000 skiable acres and a 4,425-foot vertical, including hike-to terrain, with 3,845 feet served by lifts. The resort targets a November 26, 2026 opening and an April 4, 2027 close. It lists an Epic Pass partnership, and a free gondola links the town with Mountain Village.
From the Durango airport the resort lists 125 miles and about 2 hours 25 to 30 minutes. From downtown Durango, plan about 2.5 hours via Mancos, Dolores and Lizard Head Pass. That is a long day trip. Most Durango skiers who go to Telluride stay at least one night. Telluride sells day tickets online by date and posts no fixed price in the static pages, so check the resort before you budget.
Which ski area should you ski?
Match the hill to the day you want.
- First time on skis, or skiing with young kids: Chapman Hill for a cheap, short session, or Purgatory for a full day with lessons.
- A week of skiing with mixed abilities: Purgatory as your base. Add one trip to Wolf Creek for powder.
- Chasing deep snow: Wolf Creek, ideally on a weekday outside the peak dates.
- Expert skier with avalanche gear: Silverton Mountain.
- Big-mountain scenery and a resort town: Telluride, with a night or two there.
- Toddlers, a tight budget, or an easy afternoon: Kendall Mountain or Chapman Hill.
- Night skiing: Chapman Hill on weeknights, or Kendall on select Saturdays, since Hesperus is closed.
- Only one day in Durango: Purgatory. It is the only full resort within an hour.
Need gear? Our ski rentals guide compares Durango shops, and Ski Barn sits on Main Avenue. For non-ski winter plans, see winter activities beyond skiing and Durango winter tours. Our Durango ski trip guide puts a full trip together.
