The views are worth every penny of my 5€ admission fee. And it was good that I brought my wallet,…read moresince the toll booth was already after a steep initial ascent. We went in the afternoon on Armistice Day, on a crisp day with high clouds rolling in (on our drive home that became rain). We encountered mostly French tourists, also enjoying the holiday, but there was plenty of parking and it wasn't terribly crowded. So yeah, it's an intimidating-looking hike from the bottom, but it's 20-30 minutes tops and getting there gives you a sense of accomplishment and awe at the panoramic view. We got a glimpse of snowy mountains in the distance, the last autumn leaves on the trees, cowbells ringing in the pastures, and the vast valleys of Ariege. We did notice on our way down, another group of younger folks ascending after the toll booth closed: there's no gate blocking the trail so if there's still light (and there was a little) you could risk a chilly and dimly lit descent and save a few euros. It would be great if the trail were a wee-bit better maintained (some slippery rocks, especially in the wooded area with leaves on top) but in the off-season I'm guessing that it's not a high priority.