Purgatory comes out ahead overall. It offers more vertical than Ski Cooper. Ski Cooper still has plenty to offer, especially for beginners and intermediate skiers who don't need the biggest mountain. But if you want the fuller experience, Purgatory is the stronger pick.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Ski Cooper | Purgatory | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 366m (1,201ft) | 614m (2,014ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 3,566m (11,699ft) | 3,299m (10,823ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 3,200m (10,499ft) | 2,685m (8,809ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 660cm (260in) | 660cm (260in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 60 | 105 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 5 | 11 |
Resort Size Total groomed and patrolled terrain | 430 acres | 1,609 acres |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 30% | 23% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 40% | 51% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 30% | 26% |
How you actually reach each resort. Times are the whole airport-to-base journey by the realistic route (drive, or rail where that is the practical option).
| Ski Cooper | Purgatory | |
|---|---|---|
Access tier Overall ease of reaching the resort | easy | easy |
Trip shape Whether one flight gets you within a ground leg, or a connection to a regional airport is required | One flight in | One flight in |
Closest airport Nearest airport and the whole journey time to the base | Eagle/Vail (EGE), 1h 12m | Durango (DRO), 58m |
Other airports Alternative gateways, including a bigger hub where one is in range | Denver (DEN) 2h 31m, Aspen (ASE) 2h 22m | Montrose (MTJ) 2h 12m, Telluride (TEX) 2h 25m |
These two resorts are genuinely well-matched. The best pick will come down to what matters most to you, and possibly just which flights are cheaper.
Purgatory has somewhat more vertical drop, giving a slightly longer ride on most runs.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall, so you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Ski Cooper has a slight edge in beginner-friendly terrain, with a bit more dedicated green-run acreage.
Purgatory is much larger: significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Ski Cooper's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer, giving better conditions through the day and into spring.
Both are similarly easy to reach, so getting there is unlikely to decide between them.
Ski Cooper has more beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Ski Cooper is the better pick for beginners. It dedicates more of its mountain to green runs and easy terrain, which means less time hunting for appropriate slopes and more time building confidence.
Ski Cooper (660 cm/year) and Purgatory (660 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage; other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Purgatory is the larger mountain by trail count (Ski Cooper: 60 trails, Purgatory: 105 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of advanced terrain (Ski Cooper: 30%, Purgatory: 26%). Expert skiers should look beyond percentages at the quality of the black runs, off-piste access, and whether there's lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Ski Cooper is generally the better family resort based on its terrain mix. More beginner-friendly slopes means children and less experienced parents have plenty of room to ski without feeling pushed beyond their comfort zone. That said, both resorts have established ski schools, so check current program reviews before booking.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.