Wyoming and Colorado trip tips?

Heading out from Minnesota on the '03 ST4S with the wife as follows: to Sheridan (night 1); next day to Yellowstone (2); down thru the Tetons, to Rock Springs (3); to Ouray, CO (4); to Mesa Verde, Durango and Pagosa Springs (5); to Gunnison and Vail (6); then Loveland (7) to get the 6000 maintenance at No. CO BMW-Ducati.
Using a loaner from the dealer to go back thru Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park and back to Loveland (8). to pick the bike up. Take the wife to Denver airport to get on a plane from Denver back to Minnesota and pick the giving me time to ride light. Thinking about heading up to Steamboat, Cheyenne and over to Rapid City on the rest of day 9 and all of 10 before using the superslab back to Minnesota from Rapid City on Day 11. Total miles about 3000. Getting a new set of Avon 45/46's this week.
Looking for some general advice from the board:
1) Especially on mountain riding in mid-September. Expect to see snow in some passes but also plan to only be up that high in daylight and think we should be fine. Anything on expected weather but know we are wearing waterproof suits and bringing plenty of layers. Seems like this is a drier time of year to go - ?
2) Anyone familiar with the dealer, especially for service. Looks like a beautiful facility and the appointment is being handled professionally but if you have dealt with them please let me know.
3) Absolute must-see and - even more important - must not see/ must avoid places.

I ride out here (Colorado) all the time on my st4s and I didn't see Black Canyon in your trip, near Crawford / Gunnison, don't miss almost as good as Ouray. Excellent ride from Rifle off of 70 up to Steamboat and back down to Eagle, about 4 hours worth.
Great ride thru Carbondale on 133 over McClure to Delta then back over Grand Mesa to 70.
good luck,
Brian

I got the maps and the highlighter out.
I would have missed Black Canyon and that's easy to fix now.
On my way south to Ouray maybe I can take 70 out of Grand Junction NE up to 65 then down to 92 out of Delta and loop around to 50 and come back to Montrose. Then continue south to Ouray from there.
I will probably need to go to Steamboat from the East - probably from Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park instead of from Rifle in the west. I might need to try your loop - looks like a lot of ground for 4 hours though?
Thanks.

I work right buy the Dealer and they are great guys. I buy as much stuff from them as I can. I haven't done a major service with them, just tires and stuff. Always happy with them.

Some other great roads near Loveland are Hwy 66 to Lyons then thru Allen Park to Estes Park. Golden Gate Canyon in North West Denver. Also West of Fort Collins behind Horse Tooth to Puder Canyon.

Sounds like a graet trip.

Thank you for these tips too. We will probably be in the Loveland area for a couple of nights so we will use the time we are waiting on our bike in service to cover as much as we can on the GS they said they will loan me.

The only thing I'd change is dropping the wife at the bus station in Sheridon on the 1st night. . M

I forgot that on the way up to Estes Park take a right at Drake on HMY 34. It will take you thru Glen Haven. Much better than Hwy 34 on the way up. the turn is about 5-6 miles past the Dam Store. You go thru the 1st canyon on HWY 34 then when it opens up from the canyon look for the sign at Drake, take the right to go to Glen Haven that will take you to the top of Estes.
When are you going to be out?

Was on this Drake/Glen Haven road for the first time this summer and it is a much better way to Estes Park than 34 .

C.H. Luke, a good website for some of the roads mentioned above, many which are scenic byways (all two wheeled bliss) is at: http://www.coloradobyways.org/Main.cfm Pics, maps, and little background info/history for each route.

[C.H.Luke]

This is good stuff - much appreciated.

The sad thing about where I live is that outside of the folks in my house there are probably about 3 other people within 50 miles that know what a Ducati is.
Leaving the wife in Sheridan has crossed my mind but since the alternative might be one less Ducatisti I will grin and bear it. Next year she gets her own.