DURANGO COLORADO VACATIONS

Durango Skiing

Great skiing. Great weather. No lift lines. Durango skiing offers the same type of skiing most folks look for at a large resort, but in a quaint, charming setting.

Durango Skiing
There's always good Powder, characteristic of Colorado. Expect nice tree shute runs, cliffs, natural logslides, the same thing you would find if you ever been in Colorado.

The beguiling terrain ranges from a separate beginner area to mogul-dotted steeps. Formerly known as Purgatory, Durango offers a Total Ticket can be used for a day of alpine or cross-country skiing, a snowmobile tour, hot springs visit, ride on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and dinner sleighride or casino tour.

The delightful town of Durango offers economical lodging and plenty of dining and nightlife. Mountain TranSport, a fleet of new buses, connects town and resort.

Vertical Drop: 2,029'
Top Elevation: 10,822'
Base Elevation: 8,793'
Lifts: 11 (9 chairs, 2 surface)
Trails: 85
Skiable Acres: 1,200
Longest Run: 2 miles
Annual snowfall: 260"
Snowmaking: 250 acres
Cross Country: Yes
Snowboards: Yes/2 parks, 1 half pipe
Season: Late November - Mid April

Great skiing. Great weather. No lift lines. It isn't big, yet it offers the same type of skiing most folks look for at a large resort.

Snowboarding
The signature run is Snag, an exciting roller-coaster ride of steep, moderate, steep, moderate steps—all the way down! Advanced riders can catch air off each of the steps.

Intermediates can use the flats above each headwall to catch their breath. Rider-constructed hits can often be found here and at various locations beneath the Legends lift.

Beginners should take the Durango Mountain Village Express and head for Sa's Psyche, beneath the Engineer lift.

It's nicely groomed, gentle-pitched terrain, with only one flat spot. Snowboarders generally avoid the Twilight lift because of lack of suitable terrain.

Cross Country Skiing
The Nordic Center (970-247-6000 Ext. 114 or 385-2114), maintained by the Durango Nordic Ski Club, is just north of the Alpine ski area and across Highway 550.

There are 10 miles of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing. Nordic skiers find the same undulating terrain as alpine skiers do, with appropriate terrain for various ability levels.

The center offers clinics, races, group and private lessons, rentals, children's programs, daytime and moonlight tours.

As part of Durango Mountain Resort's Total Adventure Ticket™, one Alpine ski day can be exchanged for the Nordic package. There are also guided backcountry and full-moon snowshoe tours, which can be booked through Durango Mountain Resort Ski Concierge in the Village Center.

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