SUMMARY:   If the leaves are turning at the higher elevations, then you might want to include the Kebler Pass ride in your plans.  Kebler Pass, west of Crested Butte, traverses some of the largest groves of Aspen in Colorado, along with providing some magnificent scenery.  This route does include two sections of unpaved road (13 miles on the west side of Cottonwood Pass and 40 miles between Crested Butte, over Kebler Pass, to Paonia Reservoir).  If recent rain you would probably not want to do this ride, but if the weather has been good this is quite doable since they put down dust treatment and it turns the dirt into a hard surface (except for spots in turns).  If you don't think that you are up to the Kebler loop and the additional 40 miles of unpaved road, you might want to do this ride with just the 13 miles that are unpaved.

Nice ride over Fremont Pass to Leadville, then a gradual drop from the Leadville high country along the headwaters of the Arkansas River to Buena Vista.  Beautiful ride west out of Buena Vista to Cottonwood Pass -- the road starts gradually, then climbs sharply with lots of nice twisties to the top of Cottonwood Pass (Continental Divide).  Awesome views to both the east and west from the top of the pass, with Taylor Reservoir visible to the west in the valley.  West of Cottonwood Pass the road includes the 13 miles that are unpaved, but they are very doable with a little caution.  After riding along Taylor Reservoir the road travels below the dam, with lots of nice turns and views along the Taylor River -- during the last few miles watch for Big Horn sheep along the river (to your right).

Nice sweepers as you ride south to Gunnison (you might want to stop in Gunnison for lunch), continuing east on US-50 towards Monarch Pass.  Beautiful ride up the west side of Monarch Pass with lots of twisties while using the horsepower of the Gold Wing to make the rather steep climb -- be sure to watch of possible loose gravel in the turns.  Nice gift shop at the top of Monarch (Continental Divide once again) and a pretty ride down into the Arkansas River Valley.  North along the Arkansas River to Buena Vista, but instead of heading north towards Leadville, this route will cross a little farther east into South Park to Fairplay, then over Hoosier Pass and on to Frisco and the Holiday Inn.