I hiked Preikestolen back in late September of 2018 when I visited the ‘nearby’ city of Stavanger. It was my first trip to Norway, and I was incredibly excited to finally tackle the first of my three Norwegian bucket list hikes. In a perfect world, I would have also done the Kjerag hike, but sadly the weather was not on my side. However, I did not mind too much, as the Preikestolen hike alone more than satisfied my adventurelust and only made me look forward to doing the other two hikes in the future.
The Preikestolen hike is one of the best hikes in the world and offers sensational views. It is incredible to see Preikestolen towering 604 meters above the mighty Lysefjord. It is a very peaceful environment if you manage to escape the crowds. It is a breathtaking experience to gaze down and see small waves on the fjord hundreds of meters down below while also marveling at the panoramic gray rock formations which are dotted with some greenery.
All in all, it is a spectacular hike and the scenery along the trail is very diverse. As you make your way to the 25m x 25 m big ledge that is Preikestolen, you wander through forests and past small lakes before the view opens up and reveals the fjord in the final section of the trail.
The Hike
The hike starts at the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge next to Lake Revsvatnet. The distance between the starting point and Pulpit Rock is 3.8 km, so it is a 7.6 km return hike with an elevation gain of 334 meters. The terrain of the hike varies a lot.
While the trail has easy flat areas where you walk on wooden walkways that were built to protect the environment of marshland, it also has more difficult sections.
Hereby, the harder parts of the Preikestolen hike are the rather steep staircases that have uneven steps of varying heights. However, there are also some sections where you walk across even mountain flats.
People who hike regularly usually need four hours to complete the return hike. If you want to take a lot of photos and a lot of time to enjoy the fantastic views along the way, it is better to expect 6 hours. There are a lot of great areas along the way and if it is warm, you can even take a dip in the small mountain lakes in the Tjødnane area of the mountain.
Preikestolen is located in the Strand municipality in Rogaland County. Depending on your mode of transportation and route it is one hour or two hours from Stavanger.
I do not believe in saying that something is a once-in-a-lifetime experience as we can do it again, but I do believe it is a hike that passionate hikers and nature lovers should do at least once. However, you should not do the hike just so you can take a photo. Do it because you want to hike and challenge yourself.
Facts about Preikestolen
The Preikestolen hike is the most popular hike in Norway. Today more than 300.000 hikers visit Preikestolen per year, with a peak of up to 6000 people a day between June and August. There used to be fewer hikers, but it has gained popularity in recent years. Especially since the plateau was featured in Mission Impossible Fallout. Funnily enough, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is supposedly in India, when he hangs on the side of Preikestolen.
The Preikestolen plateau most likely formed at the end of the last ice around 10.000 years ago. It is assumed that melting water and the lack of ice pressure caused fissures in the mountainside to crack. Depressurization gaps caused the mountainside to slit and large parts of the cliff face thundered down into the Lysefjord.
The English name of the plateau is Pulpit Rock because it resembles a preacher’s pulpit in a church. Its old local name was ‘Hyvlatonnå‘, and it received its current name around 1900 as part of a local tourism initiative.
The trail you wander today is similar to trails in Nepal. Hereby, the current Preikestolen trail was completed in 2013, although some small changes have been made.
It is also possible to see Preikestolen from below. To do, so you have to go on a Lysefjord boat tour or cruise.
The Preikestolen Trail
The Preikestolen hike is a well-marked trail. Along the trail, you will see wooden signposts and stone piles marked with a red T that show you the way.
Some of them also tell you how much distance you have already covered and how much longer it is to Preikestolen.
The Preikestolen hike starts with a gravel slope followed by some stone steps that are not steep.
Once at the top of the incline, you will reach the first flat section of the hike where you will walk on the unaltered mountain surface. From here you have a nice view of Refsvatnet Lake. Like the next part of the Preikestolen hike, this even area is covered by grass and trees.
Once you have walked across this flat area, you have to follow a stone path that is made up of roundish rocks of varying sizes. Watch your step or you might slip – especially if it is raining or freezing. At the end of the stone path, you will reach the first of the two steep stairs-like sections. At this point, you might start to ask yourself why you are doing this yourself, but once you have reached the top of the granite stairway, you have reached a marsh area.
This marshland section of the trail consists of walking on a wooden walkway which even has some benches. It helps keep your feet dry and also protects the environment, so it is a great combination.
After a rather relaxed walk through the swamp area, you have to face the steepest part of the hike.
The Neverdal Ravine or ‘Neverdalsskaret’ in Norwegian used to be the most difficult and treacherous part to traverse. But what once was a steep area full of loose slippery rocks is now a granite staircase. Thanks to the help of Nepalese Sherpas, it is now a lot easier and safer to hike this part of the path. There is a very small waterfall on the right side of the stairway.
Funnily enough, the sky cleared up instantly once I reached the top of the steep section, which I took as a clear sign that the hard part was over.
The trail splits when there are 1.75 km left to go. There are three paths and the right one is the route to Preikestolen. The central path leads towards a waterfall which you can later see in the distance while hiking towards Preikestolen.
Now that the hard part is over, you will soon reach an open area called Tjødnane where you will find three small lakes. It is a great place to camp and the reflection on the still surface of the mountain lakes looks amazing. The water tends to heat up in the sun so you can go for a refreshing swim. From this point onwards you get the best views. I loved the epic views I got to see during this last kilometer of the Preikestolen hike.
These days, the lake area has a cement staircase that was not there when I hiked Preikestolen in 2018. Back then you had to climb down 1.5 meters (5 feet) on a sloped rock which had a small natural ledge. Said ledge made it incredibly easy to get down, and I am incredibly saddened to see it gone. Aside from the lakes and the ugly cement staircase, you will find an emergency shelter in this area.
The walk around the last small lake and the next 100 meters lead over a somewhat flat area. There are some water-filled grooves in the area, but it is quite easy to step over them. The bigger ones are covered with wooden planks.
Then you will reach a point where the trail splits in two. You can opt to take the easier Cliff Trail to the right or the Hill Trail on the left. The Hill Trail is steeper and has more rocks, so most people choose the Cliff Trail.
The Cliff Trail leads you over a small wooden bridge. It can be slippery when it rains, so be careful. After you have crossed the bridge, you are only around 5 minutes away from Preikestolen. If you look to the plateau on the right while walking over the bridge, you can spot a waterfall that drains Moslidalsjørna Lake.
You will not enjoy the next part if you have an extreme fear of heights, as you will now have to walk along the cliff edge until you reach Preikestolen. There are no fences or anything in this area, so try to stay as close to the rocks on your right as possible. There has been a recent deadly accident in this area.
The view keeps getting better and better as you round the corner and get to see more of the mighty Lysefjord. After walking around the corner you finally get to see the destination of the hike: the Preikestolen!
There are usually a lot of people in this area who are waiting to take some photos in front of Pulpit Rock before walking on it, so be prepared to wait a while. The scenery is stunning, so even a longer wait is no hardship.
Preikestolen hike alternative route: Preikestolen Hill Trail
The hill trail involves more scrambling and an additional elevation gain, but to make up for this, it rewards hikers with several viewpoints in the area. I will eventually do the Preikestolen hike again and will update this post with some photos and a short text about the Hill Trail.
Recommendation: Take the Cliff Trail when hiking towards Preikestolen and return to the starting point via the Hill Trail. It is best to do it in this order, as some of the best views of the hike are in your direct line of vision when you take the Cliff Trail. At times, you have an unobstructed view of the impressive Lysefjord, and you do not want to miss out on the view because your back is turned towards it as you hike back.
My Preikestolen hike experience
For me, it was more about the hike than about standing on Preikestolen itself or even seeing it. What I wanted the most was to take in all those breathtaking views along the way. And it was good that this way, as I never got to stand on Pulpit Rock itself.
The last 25 meters of the hike were closed due to an ongoing rescue mission on the Hill Trail behind Preikestolen. We ended up waiting 1.5 hours to see if they would reopen it, but the rescue helicopter remained in the area. Therefore, standing on Pulpit Rock would have been too dangerous. Nether-the-less I had a great time waiting as the view is amazing!
I merely wish I could have hiked back to the starting point via the Hill Trail so I could have taken photos of Preikestolen in front of Lysefjord. But there is always next time, so it is okay.
Looking back, there was also a nice bonus due to the fact that no one was allowed to be on Preikestolen. I got to take photos of the famous ledge without people in the picture. Something a photographer can usually only dream of.
As we were hiking Preikestolen in September, we sometimes saw no one else for up to 5 minutes while taking a break to enjoy the view. Some might say that the breaks were so I could go nuts with my camera while trying to find the best angle for a photo.
Somehow it felt like I got to experience different seasons while doing the hike, and I think it shows in the photos. It was cloudy when I started on the trail, but after a while, the clouds vanished.
What started as a cloudy autumn day turned into a beautiful sunny summer day. It got quite warm, and I was glad that I was wearing several layers so I could remove the outer layer of my jacket.
Best time to hike Preikestolen
The official hiking season is from May to October when there is little to no snow on the trail.
The best time to hike Preikestolen is in the shoulder season from May to mid-June and mid-September to October. Fewer people hike Preikestolen during these months, so it is the perfect time to avoid the large crowds you are bound to encounter in Summer.
It is possible to hike to Pulpit Rock outside of the season in winter if you have the proper gear. Due to the ice ground, it is too dangerous to hike without crampons. Just be aware of the fact that the bus routes from Stavanger to Preikestolen only operate within the official Preikestolen hiking season.
Preikestolen hike difficulty
The Preikestolen is marked as a red trail, which indicates that it is challenging. However, it is on the simple side of Norwegian red trails, so many tend to say that it has medium difficulty. Most parts of the hike to Pulpit Rock are only moderately demanding and only the two steep sections are particularly challenging.
Hikers should have good general health and prior hiking experience, as good stamina is required.
After all, this hike has paths on rugged mountain terrain as well as rocky paths, in addition to the steep ascents via stone steps. Some areas can be quite slippery and uneven.
Norwegians will tell you that it is an easy hike, but they are used to extreme hikes. Therefore, it might be best not to trust their assessment without comparing what an easy Norwegian hike is like when compared to an easy hike in the country you usually hike in.
Please do the local rescue team a favor and do not hike without proper equipment or if you know that the hike is above your current fitness level. Hiking in Norway is not something you should do in sandals and frilly beach shorts as the risk of slipping and injuring your ankle or worse is too high.
Things to know before hiking Preikestolen
It is best to start the hike early in the day. Take the earliest ferry or bus to get a head start before the crowds arrive. Alternatively, you can also start the hike in the afternoon when most people are already on their way back to the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.
Do not start your hike after the latest recommended starting time. The map at the starting point of the hike states a daily latest time and it is best to adhere to it unless you want to hike back in the dark or you plan to camp on the mountain.
Do not risk your life for a photo. It is not worth it. I personally do not mind taking risks but dangling your feet over a 604 meter (1981 feet) high cliff in an area that is notorious for sudden strong bursts of wind, that could push you over the edge, might not be the best idea. Instead, look for a ‘dangerous’ camera angle at a safe location.
There are no fences. These days the trail is a lot easier, but do not expect fences at every cliff. You are on a mountain, and it would be a shame to ruin the view with fences. Please be careful and do not walk too close to the cliff. There are no safety nets, and you will fall to your death. There has been a recent deadly accident where a hiker fell down a cliff.
There are no toilets on the trail. Be sure to go to the toilet at the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge before you start hiking. You won’t get another chance until you return there. No one wants the mountain to look like some slopes of Mount Everest, so please only leave behind your footsteps. After all, we all want to enjoy nice and clean mountains.
Do not try to overtake people near cliffs or at bottlenecks of the path. Doing so can be dangerous. Especially, if you are on one of the two very steep areas or the ledge just before Preikestolen.
You have to take your trash off the mountain. There are no trash cans along the trail and it would be a real shame if the beautiful environment was tarnished by trash that people selfishly left behind. So, remember to pack a trash bag.
Hiking gear is a good idea. You do not need a full-out hiking kit to hike Preikestolen but hiking boots and hiking pants are a good idea. I wore a pair of jeans and while it was okay, leggings or hiking pants would have been more comfortable. So, remember to pack a windproof pair of sports pants.
Wear shoes with a good profile and grip. I actually saw a woman attempt to do the hike in flip-flops. She ended up having to turn back at the first steep section.
The trail is slippery when wet or icy. Watch your steps to avoid falling and injuring yourself.
You can buy drinks and snacks at the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge. Buy what you need before or after your hike to Preikestolen.
Check the weather. It is important to know what the weather will be like the day you hike to Pulpit Rock. We originally planned to hike a day later, but there were forecasts of a storm with very strong gusts of wind. They closed the hike as it would have been way too dangerous.
The weather can change quickly. Preikestolen is in Western Norway, a region known for its rainy and very windy weather. Fog is not uncommon either.
You can bring your dog. Be sure to bring poo bags and water for your dog.
The apps ‘Maps. me’ and ‘All Trails’ are better than Google Maps. Both apps also show you the Hill Trail route. Hereby, ‘Maps. me’ is slightly better, as it shows you all other short detours along the Hill Route and which places are great viewpoints.
You can join a guided hike if you do not feel comfortable hiking on your own.
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Preikestolen Guided Hikes and Tours
There are daily guided hikes to Preikestolen. Be sure to book the guided hike in advance.
How to get to Preikestolen: Stavanger to Preikestolen
You only need to look up these options if you plan to hike on your own. All guided tours from Stavanger include a transfer from Stavanger to Preikestolen. Therefore, you do not have to worry about how to get to Preikestolen.
Take the bus from Stavanger to Preikestolen
Most people who want to get from Stavanger to Preikestolen take the bus. Hereby you have several options. The drop-off point of all buses is at Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, which is right at the starting point of the hike. You can opt to book a tour, but it is also possible to get to Preikestolen without booking a bus tour.
Ferry and bus – If you want a nice ferry ride and do not mind if it takes longer to get to Preikestolen, you can opt to take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau. After that, you can take the express bus that departs right at the ferry pier and takes you directly to the starting point of the Preikestolen hike.
The ferry ride is 40 minutes long and costs 60 NOK. It departs from Stavanger’s Fiskepirterminalen ferry port. Upon arrival in Tau, you do not have to wait for long, as the bus schedule corresponds with the ferry schedule.
The local bus costs 30 NOK, but like the tour company buses, it only runs during the official hiking season from May to October.
If you want to go with the fastest option without any transfers along the way, you can book a trip with one of the three tour companies that serve the route. Hereby your three options are GoFjords, Pulpit Rock Tours, and Peller Reiser.no.
GoFjords – If you book the GoFjords Preikestolen Express Bus, you can expect to pay 390 NOK for a round trip. Hereby you can choose between three different starting times. You can depart Stavanger at 8 AM, 10 AM or 12 PM. Hereby I recommend taking the first bus to avoid the crowds. If you want to, you can also combine the bus trip with a fjord cruise (930 NOK).
Pulpit Rock Tours – Pulpit Rock Tours offers both one-way and return journeys. Hereby, the return journey is open so you can choose whatever time works best once you have completed the hike. It is also possible to book a transfer directly from Stavanger Airport to Preikestolen. The buses run daily from May to September. There are usually 5 buses in each direction per day. A roundtrip costs 325 NOK for adults and 230 NOK for children. A one-way ticket respectively costs 219 NOK and 140 NOK.
Back when I hiked the trail to Preikestolen, I took the ferry to Tau and then the express bus to the starting point of the Preikestolen hike. Back then the sea tunnel had yet to be opened, but I would still take the ferry in the future. At least if the sky is clear. After all, I really liked sailing past the small islands like Vassøy and Lindøy.
Driving from Stavanger to Preikestolen
If you want to drive to Preikestolen from Stavanger, you can now drive through the Ryfylke sea tunnel to Solbakk. Once you exit the tunnel, you just have to follow the sign that leads you toward the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.
The driving time is around 45 minutes. The one-way car toll for the subsea tunnel is 134 NOK.
Parking at Preikestolen
There are two car parks at the starting point of the hike. One is right next to the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge and the other one is slightly to the left of the starting point of the hike. Both parking lots are directly connected to the hike.
The car park fee at Preikestolen is 250 NOK (25€) for a car, 100 NOK for a motorcycle, and 800 NOK for a campervan. You have to pay with a credit or debit card. However, it is not possible to use an AMEX card.
What to bring when hiking to Pulpit Rock
- 1.5 l water and snacks – It is not possible to buy anything once you have started the hike, so be sure to bring enough hiking snacks and water.
- electronics – Pack a power bank, your phone, and a camera.
- potentially a compass – If you do not have an app that can show you all the trails on the mountain
- basic first-aid equipment – You do not need anything excessive but having some band-aids and a bandage is a good idea. Also, pack some blistering plasters.
- headlamp – You might not need it, but it is always best to have it on you in case you have no choice but to hike in the dark. Alternatively, a torch (with full batteries) will do.
- stable footwear – Hiking boots with ankle support are the best option.
- warm socks and light spare shoes – If it is raining or icy, your feet might get wet during the hike. In that case, it is good to be able to change shoes and socks once you have finished the hike. Wet and cold feet are no fun on the way back to Stavanger or wherever you are staying.
- hat or headband – It might seem over the top if you are hiking in summer, but I could not recommend it more. It is windy, so it is best to wear a thin headband even if you are hiking in the summer. It is the only thing that prevents ear pain due to the cold temperatures on top of the mountain and the strong wind. Do yourself a favor and keep your ears warm and toasty.
- a windproof jacket – As mentioned above, it is often windy, so a windproof jacket helps keep you warm.
- gloves and a scarf – You might end up not needing them, but at the start of the official hiking season, you can still find some snow on top of the mountain. Additionally, the scarf helps shield you from the wind.
- potentially some extra clothes – I changed clothes after the hike and was glad that I got to do so.
- insurance information – It is unlikely that something will happen, but it is always good to have travel insurance. Be sure to bring your card.
Where to stay near Preikestolen
Those planning to hike Preikestolen have several options on where to stay. While most people stay in Stavanger, you can also stay right at the trailhead, in Tau, or camp close to the beginning of the trail. If you want the biggest adventure, you can also camp along the trail.
Where to stay in Stavanger
If you prefer to stay in a bigger city that also offers a lot of things to do, you should stay in Stavanger. As I have yet to find an amazing and affordable private accommodation, I recommend staying at one of the bigger hotel chains.
$$ – Smarthotel Forus, Scandic Forum & Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel
$$$ – Scandic Royal Stavanger & Scandic Stavanger City
Accommodations close to Preikestolen
Staying at the Trailhead — Those wanting to stay right at the trailhead have two options. You can stay at Preikestolen BaseCamp, which is a hotel, or in one of the cozy permanent tents of Hikers’ Camp.
Camping near Preikestolen hike — If you want to camp near Preikestolen, you can do so at Preikestolen Camping. It is not possible to reserve a camping spot, so be sure to arrive early.
Where to stay in Tau — Staying at Lilland Hostel Tau is the perfect option if you want to spend less and stay closer to the trail.
Camping along the Preikestolen hike trail
The Preikestolen hike is a day hike, but you can camp along the route just around the corner from Pulpit Rock. This way you can enjoy the sunset and sunrise from Preikestolen itself without having to do the entire hike in the dark or just getting to see one of both.
Thankfully wild camping is officially allowed in Norway, so you can set up your tent there for up to two nights. Just know that you must camp around the corner from Preikestolen as it would be too dangerous to camp along the last 250 meters of the Cliff Trail. There are signs that tell you not to camp beyond this point. Please adhere to the signs.
Use guidelines when you set up your tent. It tends to be windy in the area and you do not want your tent to blow away.
Are you planning a trip?
Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my adventures around the world.
Is the Preikestolen hike on your bucket list?
Just like diving in the Great Barrier Reef, going on an elephant safari in Sri Lanka, and swimming in a bioluminescent bay, hiking Preikestolen is one of those things you look back on while asking yourself ‘Did I really do this?’.
If you are anything like me, you might just think “This is what it feels like to be alive” once you reach the highest point of the hike.
Ultimately, I love a good hike and epic views, so the hike to Pulpit Rock is a perfect combination for me.
I consider it a bucket list adventure for outdoor lovers and if you tackle the trail, I sincerely hope you will love it just as much as I did.
More about Norway
If you are making plans for your next trip to Germany, you might also want to check out these Norway Travel Guides:
Things to do in Stavanger
Amazing Street Art in Stavanger
Are there any other hikes in Norway on your Itinerary?
Let me know in the comments!
Planning to hike to Preikestolen?
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It’s a stunning view. I’m a Norwegian from this area. It’s just to be careful. Accidents have happened. Unfortunately. People taking selfies too close to the edge. It’s breathtaking nature. Just amazing. Recommend
This place is so beautiful, I would love to visit! One day, when I can finally leave the country again lol.
Gorgeous hike! I’ve never been to Norway but definitely want to do a hike when I do! This one is going on the list 🙂
Now this is an incredible looking hike. As if I needed any more reasons to want to visit Norway, but this just gave me another. Love that you can camp there too, I think seeing the sunset and sunrise out there would be amazing. I agree with some of your disappointment over the trail being altered, I do a lot of hiking and while safety is a big aspect, there are places that are getting too popular even with people who don’t put the time in to learn a bit more about safety when hiking so it’s annoying that natural areas have to be altered for that reason
I am so glad that I am not the only one that feels that way about hikes. Sometimes I feel like a hiking snob because it saddens me so much to see an amazing trail altered drastically because some people do not know their own abilities.
This hike is on my bucket list! You might have said it, but where is the closest airport?
The closest airport is Stavanger airport. 🙂
Pulpit Rock Tours even offers a direct trip from the airport to Preikestolen. Tho I can only recommend spending some time in Stavanger as well. It’s a really nice city with a yearly street art festival, so it is just amazing to stroll through the streets.
This looks like such an epic hike! I think I saw a few photos of the iconic rock on Instagram! The views are just insane. Love your photos too 🙂
It sure is epic! I could have stayed up there for hours without getting bored
So going to camp up there the next time I’m there
Last time I was in Norway I never made it outside of Oslo unfortunately, but next trip I’m definitely going to head to the more remote areas. I would love to go hiking in Norway and this one looks like an epic one to try with some amazing views!
I’ve never heard of this hike before, but based on your pictures, it sure looks amazing. I’ve climbed a few mountains in Southeast Asia, so I think physically I mayyy be able to attempt this, but I’d still prefer to go on a guided hike. Thanks for the useful tips!
Which mountain in Southeast Asia did you climb? I have a few of them on my list
Did you get to climb Poem Mountain before they closed it? So far it is my favorite one in Asia