Purgatory Mountain Coaster: Height Rules, Tickets, Status

The Inferno Mountain Coaster is a 4,000-foot gravity coaster at Purgatory Resort that reaches 25 mph and drops 300 feet through aspen forest. A single ride costs $20, riders must be 36 inches tall, and the resort currently lists the coaster as closed until further notice, so check status before you drive up.

The Inferno Mountain Coaster is a single-rail gravity coaster at Purgatory Resort, about 30 minutes north of Durango. It runs 4,000 feet of track with 300 feet of vertical at up to 25 mph, and a single ride costs $20. However, the resort currently lists it as closed until further notice, so confirm status before you go.

TL;DR

The Inferno Mountain Coaster is the fastest family ride at Purgatory, and you control the speed with your own hand brake. Riders must be at least 36 inches tall, and kids under 9 ride as passengers with a driver aged 16 or older. The coaster is closed until further notice as of this writing, so call the resort or check the official page before planning a day around it.

Key Takeaways

The track is 4,000 feet long, with 300 feet of vertical and a top speed of 25 mph.
A single ride costs $20, while a 5-activity adult pack costs $49, or $9.80 per ride.
Riders need to be 36 inches tall, and solo riders need to be 9 or older and 52 inches tall.
Each car holds 2 guests with a combined weight limit of 300 pounds.
The 2026 schedule ran daily June 20 through August 16, then weekends through October 4, weather and closures permitting.

What is the Inferno Mountain Coaster?

The Inferno opened on August 25, 2018, and it was built by ADG Mountainsides. According to The Durango Herald's opening coverage, the track packs nine switchbacks and one 360-degree loop into its run. In addition, sections of the rail rise as high as 40 feet off the ground. That elevated track is what makes it feel faster than the numbers suggest.

A cable lift pulls each car up the hill, and then gravity does the rest. The Roller Coaster Database lists it as a steel, sit-down mountain coaster with a cable lift hill and a top speed of 25 mph. Because each car runs on its own, there is no train to wait for once you reach the front of the line.

How fast does the Inferno Mountain Coaster go?

The top speed is 25 mph, but you set your own pace. Every car has a hand brake, and Uncover Colorado notes that the system uses anti-collision programming to keep cars spaced apart. As a result, a nervous first-timer and a teenager chasing speed can ride the same track on their own terms.

For a sense of scale, we did the math ourselves. At a steady 25 mph, covering 4,000 feet takes about 109 seconds. Since you brake into the switchbacks, a real descent runs longer than that floor, so plan on roughly two minutes of downhill per ride.

Local's Take: Let the first run be a slow one. Once you know where the switchbacks are, the second run is where the fun starts, and a 5-pack makes that second run cheap.

Who can ride the Inferno Mountain Coaster?

The rider rules are strict, so check them before you promise the kids a ride. Per the official Purgatory coaster page, every rider must be at least 36 inches tall. Drivers must be at least 16 years old and 52 inches tall. In addition, children 9 and older who are at least 52 inches tall can ride alone.

Children under 9 must ride as passengers with a qualified driver. Each car holds up to 2 guests, and the combined weight cannot exceed 300 pounds. Uncover Colorado adds that riders must be at least 3 years old. Therefore, a parent riding with a small child should do the weight math before reaching the loading station.

What should you wear on the coaster?

The resort recommends closed-toe footwear, and every driver and passenger must complete a release of liability. Meanwhile, the high-country sun is stronger than most visitors expect, even on a cool fall day. For that reason, sunglasses that strap on or fit snugly are a smart call at 25 mph. If you need a pair of trail shoes before the trip, Backcountry Experience in Durango carries them.

How much does the Inferno Mountain Coaster cost?

A single activity ticket is $20, per the official coaster page. By contrast, a 5-activity pack costs $49 for adults and $39 for children. That drops the adult price to $9.80 per ride, a 51 percent savings over five single tickets. The resort also notes that 5-pack activity tickets are discounted by $10 while the coaster is closed.

Here is the family math we ran for a group of four. Two adult packs and two child packs cost $176 and cover 20 rides or activities. Buying 20 single tickets would cost $400 instead. For more on stretching those packs, see our breakdown of Purgatory summer activities and value.

Is the Inferno Mountain Coaster open right now?

As of September 24, 2026, the official page states that the mountain coaster is closed until further notice. The posted 2026 season ran daily from June 20 to August 16, then weekends from August 22 to October 4, plus Labor Day. Operating hours were 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. Consequently, the only safe plan is to check the official page or call the resort on the morning you go.

The builder originally billed the ride as a year-round attraction. However, the resort's own page says it does not operate in winter. When the two disagree, trust the resort, because it runs the ride.

When is the best time to ride?

In a normal season, early fall is the sweet spot. In our experience, the summer crowds thin out after Labor Day, and the aspens along the track turn gold in late September, as our fall colors guide tracks each year. Purgatory's general manager described the ride as one that "zips you through aspen trees", and fall is when that line lands best.

Mornings also tend to beat afternoons. In our experience, afternoon storms build fast in the San Juans, and the coaster shuts down in bad weather. So ride first and save the lake, the alpine slide, and lunch for later. For a full weekend plan, our fall family weekend in Durango guide fits the coaster into two days.

What else is there to do around the coaster?

Purgatory sits in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by the San Juan National Forest. According to Colorado's official tourism site, Colorado.com, the resort's summer lineup includes a half-mile alpine slide, scenic chairlift rides, paddleboarding at Twilight Lake, and gemstone mining. Our Purgatory summer guide covers each one.

Where should you eat and soak after the ride?

After a morning of riding, head back down the valley. First, grab a hearty lunch at Oscar's Cafe, a casual Durango diner that works for picky teens. Next, pour a round at Animas Brewing Company downtown. Finally, end the day with a soak at Trimble Hot Springs, which sits on the way back toward the mountain.

Where should you stay to ride the Inferno?

Staying on the mountain turns the coaster into a short walk instead of a drive. Our ski-in, ski-out townhomes at Purgatory put the resort base right outside the door, so you can ride at opening and be back for lunch. In addition, the off-season window after early October is when mountain lodging gets cheapest, as our Durango off-season deals guide explains.

Before you book around the coaster, confirm it has reopened. If it is still closed, the alpine slide and the chairlift make a strong backup plan. Either way, a mountain base means less time in the car and more time on the hill.