It's probably been mentioned already, but you should bypass US 160 via Colorado 12 from Trinidad to LaVeta. That stretch of US 160 takes you on a fairly ugly stretch of I-25, but Colo 12, nicknamed the 'Highway of Legends', is one of the prettiest rides in the state. Hwy 12 takes you over Cuchara Pass (9,900') and has some nice curvy stretches.