Traveling from Chaco to Denver on 160/112/280 ?

I think you meant 285 not 280. That's the preferred route between those 2 points. You will be going over Wolf Creek Pass on 160, which is a long steep climb & descent, but all good road and no problem in summer time.
The only reasonable alternate would be through Chama, Antonito and Alamosa, but I don't see much advantage to it, just depends on what if any stops & sights you want to hit along the way.