Great writeup, Im from Denver and cant wait to get up there and see some of those trails, maybe this summer?
If you can't get to Ouray, then atleast get out to Breckenridge and Keystone. There are some wonderful trails in that area, and the views are amazing. Not to mention it is only an hour to an hour and a half for you to get there from your place.
Tell you want, take the Loveland pass exit, once you get over the pass, and down to Keystone ski resort take the first left into the resort, take the first left again, and go all the way down, where it T's off then take a right and go up to the town of Montezuma. From there go right through town and all the way until you reach the top of the pass (shortly after you leave town you end up on Deer Creek 4x4 trail.)
There is Saints Johns (both with the "s") which leaves out of the middle of Montezuma (on the right), Deer Creek, straight up the road, and Weber pass, on the left before deer creek, up there, all are wonderful trails, and if you are willing to take the time they all connect. Weber and Deer Creek meat up with a trip up a difficult road called radical hill, and Deer Creek and Saints Johns run along the top of the ridge line to one another. (and they are all only ten minutes from my old home...sigh...I would go up there at least once a week!)
