I was about to recommend the Million-Dollar Highway which winds through the mining country of Colorado (Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, etc.) but realized its getting mighty wintry up there. Unless you have a full snow kit in the trunk of your car (chains, shovel, sand, blankets, etc.) don't just blindly point your itinerary through mountain ranges, scenery or no. Many roads are closed across the high passes or become just plain impassable deep in winter and others are really difficult driving. Don't mean to scare you away from anything, just be aware...