rental vehicle for Red Rocks

How bad are the dirt roads in mid-April?   The Handren book says (of e.g. the Black Velvet access road) that it is "quite rough in places".

I am trying to decide between "Nissan Rogue or similar", "Nissan Pathfinder or similar", and "Nissan Frontier Crew Cab or similar".

YMMV but we made it in and out of BV for 4 days in the meekest little 2wd geo-metro knockoff we could find. If we got stuck our plan was just to pick it up and carry it the rest of the way. This was in November, not sure how much things change in April.

Any of those vehicles are going to be just fine

Keep in mind that most rental car contracts prohibit driving off of paved roads. Even if "everybody does it" and you can probably get away with it.

You could ask the rental car company about it, if you dare!

FrankPSwrote:

Keep in mind that most rental car contracts prohibit driving off of paved roads. Even if "everybody does it" and you can probably get away with it.

Yeah, I may or may not have (allegedly!) taken a rental sedan into some stuff in the Sierra Eastside.  :-)

That is the experience that I am looking to not (allegedly!) repeat.

I usually just spend $10 for a car wash before I return it and call it a day. It’s amazing how many of those branch scratches just disappear. 

I have taken a Forester back there a number of times without issue. If you are prudent with your driving I think any vehicle you listed would be fine.

Climb Onwrote:

I usually just spend $10 for a car wash before I return it and call it a day. It’s amazing how many of those branch scratches just disappear. 

Waste of $10

Mike Climbersonwrote:

Waste of $10

Maybe, but it’s better than finding that one guy in the return line that’s having a bad day.