Purgatory Trailhead

Posted On: 5/29/2025 By: deirdredenali
Info: Good to go! The trail is in nice shape and the whole way is in tact; no washouts. Other than a couple downed trees, there is nothing of note. No snow, no mud. Woohoo!

Posted On: 7/6/2024 By: ablocki
Info: The heavy rain from earlier this week created some nasty mudslides over the Aminas river trail. Heading from Purg towards Needleton, there are three washed out sections about 1.75-2.0 miles before the Needle creek bridge. The first one can easily be walked over and is mostly dry as of 7/6. The second one can be easily avoided by going off trail to the river side into a meadow for about 200 feet. The third one is awful but seems to be quickly drying. On 7/4 we struggled to find a dry stretch and sank in mud to our knees, but on 7/6 we found a mostly dry path through it. The slide covers about a 1,000+ foot stretch of the trail in calf-deep mud or worse. We were able to stay 99% dry on 7/6 by staying as high as we could on the non-river side of the trail. Coming from the Purg side, the path is obvious; stay on the muddy boulders as long as you can. Coming from the Needleton side is a little trickier and involves trying to cross the first section on downed trees but aim for the muddy boulders left of the trail and you're in the clear. If conditions stay dry, I would expect everything to be hard packed again in a week or two. Photos show some of the recent tracks through the mud as well as shots of the debris up and down the stream that brought all of this down.

Posted On: 7/7/2024 By: supranihilest
Info: As ablocki mentioned, there are three mudslides across the Animas River trail about two miles from Needleton. The first (when going to Needleton) is mostly dry by now and the second can also be avoided almost entirely on the downhill/river side. The third is impossible to avoid entirely, or at least we weren't able to, but using rocks, downed trees, and various other plants one can kind of avoid most of it. Dry conditions definitely helped, the mud was very wet, sticky but simultaneously slick, and prone to just eating your entire lower leg a few days earlier on Wednesday. It is possible to lose footwear in the mud if you're not careful. Rain storms would almost certainly make the mud crossings nasty again, and might cause more mudslides. Aside from the mudslides the Purgatory Flats and Animas River trails are in summer condition.

Posted On: 1/20/2023 By: Kiefer
Info: Just a quick update for those considering Chi Basin. The Purgatory TH is currently CLOSED for the winter. You must use the Nordic Center slightly north. Park in the back as it gets a lot of use.

Posted On: 7/26/2022 By: Kiefer
Info: Trailhead has been consistently half to 3/4 full for the past couple weeks. Recent rains probably are the reason why. I believe they are largening the trailhead by putting in additional parking across the road (some heavy machinery). Trail down to the valley floor is firm but moist. Some expected muddy spots but reasonable. The grass/fields are drenched. Stay the trail.

Posted On: 7/10/2021 By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Some spots available on Monday 7/5 mid-afternoon; completely packed Friday 7/9 afternoon. People waiting for spots as we were leaving. No issues leaving car for the week.

Posted On: 8/16/2020 By: angry
Info: Parking was full when I arrived at 6am on Thursday morning, and when I exited on Sunday at 930am.

Posted On: 8/13/2020 By: Marsh
Info: Purgatory trailhead parking was full when we got there at 10pm. There is overflow parking on the other side of the lake (see pic). Despite the cars, Chicago Basin was not crowded. Go figure. 15+ miles to campsite at 11,200 feet. Excellent trails all the way. Plenty of camping along the Animas River.

Posted On: 7/15/2020 By: Unknown
Info: Parking was almost full on a Sunday morning, no issues with water as long as you fill up when necessary. Usually carried 1-2L without problem, once above needleton the trail finally gains elevation, and water sources are few until 10.5k or so. Parts of the trail from 11k to Twin Lakes can be muddy, waterproof shoes advised. Woke up to goats and porcupines a few times but no real issue when food is hung up

Posted On: 7/8/2020 By: emily_m
Info: Water crossings that don't have a permanent bridge are very low with good logs to step across on (if not totally dry). Sufficient water to filter and fill up on if you take each opportunity. Not many streams on the upper section between Needleton and Chicago Valley, so definitely plan on filling up at New York Creek and a stream I don't know the name of between NY creek and the basin.

Posted On: 7/29/2019 By: S-Parx
Info: I believe this TH is open year round, but wanted to add a little more detail to it. It is in a subdivision with fancy houses on either side, next to a lake and a town park. No "No Camping" signs and got away with sleeping in my car the night before and after my trip. Did not cook or hangout outside though. Cell reception was great with Verizon and I would assume other carriers as well. The trail starts across the street from the lake and main parking area and goes downhill to Purgatory Flats. Having had no previous idea why this area was called that, once arriving, I understood. Right as you gain the "flats" you cross a small trickle of a stream, maybe dry later in the summer and come upon an immediate junction. Go right here. The trail parallels Cascade creek on the hikers left when descending. There is another junction shortly after, I think the main trail is on the right, but another trail on the left meets up with the main trail ~1/4mi later after passing some camping near the creek and a nice little beach. From here on the trail is easily followed to Chicago Basin and junctions are labelled. Photo is "The Flats" returning from Animas River up to my car.

Posted On: 8/24/2015 By: HikerGuy
Info: Trailhead parking lot is located next to a lake in a neighborhood of new homes. The turnoff is directly across from the ski resort entrance on 550. I parked my car there for three nights with no problem. The hike in to 11,000 feet was 15.16 miles. 4.39 miles from trailhead to train track crossing. 5.38 miles from train track crossing to Needle Creek bridge. And 5.39 from Needle Creek bridge to 11,000 feet.

Posted On: 7/4/2013 By: nyker
Info: Hiked into Chicago Basin from Purgatory on Jun 30; Packed out on Jul 3. Trail is free and clear, no snow, no mud, no closures. Downed trees have been cut and all is clear....just LONG.

Posted On: 7/2/2013 By: zxbraves
Info: Purgatory TH: 37.629668,-107.806526

Posted On: 4/13/2011 By: d_baker
Info: A couple of feet at the TH and for the first 1/8mi or so, but beyond that it‘s mostly melted out. The TH itself is N facing and is on steep treed slope, therefore is in the shadows a lot. Beyond Purg. Flats, and in the canyon, I crossed over 4 avy debris piles, other than those, the trail to Cascade/Animas is dry. Tracks from Cascade to Needleton is dry. Across the bridge and at the TH for Needleton Creek is dry, but I didn‘t go beyond the sign. I went to the north. S and W aspects up to at least 9200‘ is mostly melted out, from my observations and what I encountered.