I would agree with 17-285-24-91-70-9-40
When I lived in SBS and lead whitewater trips on the Arkansas River, that was my preferred route (as far as BV) with a school bus full of clients, rafts & kayaks. Yes it has some steep climbs & descents, but you can't travel through that part of Co with out going up/down the mountains.
These days my summer homebase is just west of Alamosa (South Fork) and I take the MH up to visit friends in SBS once a summer via the same route, except I hit 285 coming from the W via 160/112
