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Round 04

Purgatory

Durango, Colorado · Aug 27–30, 2026

The season finale. Purgatory has been part of downhill racing in Colorado for decades — it's where MSC comes home to close out the year. Fast, physical, and the only round where series titles are decided on the hill. Four rounds. One weekend. Everything on the line.

End it where it all began. The season finale deserves this mountain.

ROUND Purgatory
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Colorado FOUR
Purgatory Colorado
Race Day In
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1.4 mi Length
2,029 ft Vert Drop
10,822 ft Summit
DH Discipline

Schedule

Tentative Run of Show — Finalized schedule posted race week

Thursday, Aug 27 — Trackwalk & Check-In
Athlete Check-In 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Trackwalk 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday, Aug 28 — Practice Day
Athlete Check-In 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Women’s Only Practice 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Downhill Practice — Cat 2 / Cat 3 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Downhill Practice — Pro / Cat 1 1:30 – 5:00 PM
Saturday, Aug 29 — Practice & Seeding
Athlete Check-In 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Downhill Practice — Cat 2 / Cat 3 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Downhill Practice — Pro / Cat 1 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Seeding Runs — Pro / Cat 1 3:15 – 4:30 PM
Sunday, Aug 30 — Race Day & Series Awards
Practice — Cat 2 / Cat 3 8:00 – 9:45 AM
Cat 3 / Cat 2 Racing 10:00 AM – 12:25 PM
Cat 2 / Cat 3 Awards 12:40 – 1:10 PM
Practice — Pro / Cat 1 12:25 – 1:55 PM
Pro / Cat 1 Racing 2:10 – 3:50 PM
Pro / Cat 1 Awards & Series Celebration 4:05 – 4:35 PM

Purgatory’s DH course drops off the top of the resort through old-growth aspens and high-alpine terrain before opening up into fast, flowing lower sections. The course uses a mix of established resort trail and purpose-built race line — technical up top, wide-open speed down below.

Upper Ridge → Aspen Glades → Lower Flow → Base Finish

Length 1.4 mi
Vertical Drop 2,029 ft
Summit 10,822 ft
Discipline Downhill
Lift Access Chairlift to start gate

Purgatory is 25 miles north of Durango on US-550 — the Million Dollar Highway. The resort is easy to find and well-signed from the highway. Durango has full services and a regional airport.

Resort Purgatory Resort
Address 1 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301
Airport DRO (30 min) · MTJ (2.5 hr)
Parking Free at resort base area

Open in Maps →

Purgatory Village Condos
On-site, ski-in/ski-out, walk to staging. Best option for race weekend.
Haviland Lake Campground
USFS, 12 mi south on US-550. Beautiful lakeside sites, fills up early.
Durango Hotels
25 mi south — Hampton Inn, DoubleTree, Holiday Inn, Airbnbs. Full town amenities.
Dispersed Camping (San Juan NF)
Free sites along forest roads off US-550. No services, bring everything.

The finish area is open, free, and visible from the base area. Upper spectator spots are accessible via a short hike from mid-mountain. Food vendors at the base. Beer garden. Cowbells mandatory.

  • Finish line is free and open — great base area viewing
  • Mid-course viewing via short hike from base
  • Bring a chair for the finish area
  • Food vendors and beer garden at base
  • No spectators on the course — marshals will redirect

Durango is a real mountain town — you won’t run out of things to do. The whole town caters to outdoor people.

  • Durango has everything — groceries, restaurants, bike shops, breweries
  • Steamworks Brewing, 11th Street Station, Ska Brewing
  • Animas River trail for shakeout rides
  • Cell service is good at resort and in town
  • Million Dollar Highway (US-550 north) is one of the most scenic drives in Colorado
Pro / Cat 1 $150
Cat 2 / Cat 3 $125

Emergency: Mercy Regional Medical Center, Durango (25 min) · (970) 247-4311
On-site EMT at base area during all race activities

Register — from $125