I have been down that road many times. It is my favorite mountain pass. I lived in that area for years - around GJ, Montrose, Delta, Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Telluride. Gunnison is beautiful also. I worked in Aspen for awhile and even once lived at a boyscout camp near Ward, CO called Camp Tahosa. I don't think it belongs to the scouts anymore though. It was right next to Carabou Ranch where Chicago records at their mountain retreat. I love that area. Given the choice I would have stayed! Too bad there isn't a beach there as well, oh well, you can't have everything!

SNIP
>If you liked Grand Junction, you should go down around Montrose. The Red Mountain Pass is one of the most scenic places you'll see in the world!