The final few steps on the way to Breckenridge's Peak 8 summit are the toughest.

The already-steep grade ramps up to nearly 50 percent, causing that familiar burning sensation in even the most fit pair of quadriceps. But the payoff at the end of this 10-minute hike is well worth the pain. On a clear day, the top of the 12,998-foot mountain offers hallmark Rocky Mountain views in all directions.

Few people make the trek solely for a photo op, though. The Peak 8 summit affords access to a vast expanse of otherwise-unreachable expert terrain, including the precipitous 55-degree Lake Chutes and the recently added Snow White bowl.

Both areas are part of Breckenridge's hike-to terrain, an exceedingly popular feature at nearly all of Colorado's 26 ski resorts, including those closest to Boulder County.

"It adds another element to the ski experience," said Loveland marketing director John Sellers. "You take away the danger and special gear requirements of backcountry skiing, but you still get to ski terrain most people won't get to."

Loveland's "backcountry-light" experience is better known as The Ridge, which runs along the Continental Divide, yielding its own 360-degree views. Loveland regulars like to traverse south, then make the short hike up and over the 13,010-foot Summit Ridge before dropping into expert-rated Wild Child. There's almost always a launch from the East Wall traverse. Willie's Wide is a local favorite, serving up steep but open terrain that stays soft long after the rest of the mountain has been skied off.

"These aren't for the lighthearted skier," conceded Leigh Hierholzer, spokeswoman for Arapahoe Basin, which also has hike-back terrain at the bottom of its new-this-season Montezuma Bowl. "The climbs up can be pretty tough."

For those uninterested in earning turns but who still want to go beyond lift-accessed areas, Keystone and Copper Mountain offer affordable options.

At Keystone, $5 buys you a one-mile Sno-Cat ride from the top of the Outback Express lift up toward the summit of Wapiti Peak. From there, you can drop into the gentle slopes of either North or South bowl. If you'd rather save your money for après-ski, you can cover the same distance by foot in about 15 minutes.

Keystone also runs a $199-a-day Sno-Cat operation, which hauls skiers and snowboarders to the top of the more-difficult Independence Bowl. Again, those on a budget can forsake tank-tracked transportation, but getting to the top by foot will take at least a half-hour.

At Copper Mountain, two Sno-Cats offer free rides to the ridge between Copper Bowl and Tucker Mountain. From there, you can either strap on the boards and head back down, or continue hiking up Tucker Mountain, gaining access to runs such as Taco and Nacho. Copper Mountain ski patrollers joke that if you do that twice, you get an Enchilada Plate.

An even better option is hiking to the end of the ridgeline, and then dropping into Freemont Glade. It's one of Copper Mountain's best-kept secrets and is often loaded with soft snow.

Access to Winter Park's expert-only Vasquez Cirque is more skate than hike. Once there, the precipitous South Headwall and Alphabet Chutes are your best bets. No matter which you choose, you'll end up in steep, gladed trees before arriving at the base of the Eagle Wind lift.

Back at Breckenridge, communication coordinator Ryan Whaley has his own strategy for hitting the hike-to terrain.

"On a powder day, I start by hiking Peak 9 out to Broadway or Twin Chutes," he said. "There's always good snow out there, and you can see what's going on at Peak 8. As soon as you see the Imperial Express lift start to spin, you know ski patrol has finished avalanche control, so you head over there."

And when you get to the top of Imperial Express, pop off the snowboard or skis and start hiking. The gain is always worth the pain.