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Lyse Fjord et Preikestolen

Treks / Norway

Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

Norway · Nearest city: Stavanger

TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 8 km
Climbing≈ 350 m
Highest point604 m

A short, popular hike to a flat-topped cliff 604 m above the Lysefjord.

Fitness Easy
Best seasonApril to October
High pointPreikestolen

Watch out: Very busy in summer. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Why people choose it

It's a flat-topped cliff 604 m above the Lysefjord, reached on a short hike most people can do.

What makes it different

  • A cliff edge 604 m above the fjord
  • Short and family-friendly
  • Close to Stavanger

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). These are the main choices people make.

Similar treks to consider

Path of the Gods (Amalfi Coast) Italy · 1 day · 8 km A cliff-top path from Agerola to Nocelle high above the Amalfi Coast, with some of the best sea views in Europe. Pravčická brána and Edmund's Gorge Czech Republic · 1 day · 15 km A day hike in Bohemian Switzerland to Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, with a boat ride through a... Pen y Fan United Kingdom (Wales) · 1 day · 7 km The highest peak in southern Britain, in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). A short, popular walk...

Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.

Europe eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsHeymondoSafetyWingTrue Traveller

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

Norway's allemannsretten lets you camp for up to two nights in uncultivated land, at least 150 m from houses and cabins.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Download GPX

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Trail from OpenStreetMap (5.9 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: Preikestolen

Simple overview map
PreikestolenStavanger20 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • No bookings are needed for most people. Choose a day with a good forecast.
    • Best time to go: April to October.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Stavanger.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
    • Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: April to October

Late June to mid-July

Early summer

Midnight sun or very long days, snow patches on high ground and fast-flowing snowmelt rivers. Mosquitoes peak.

Bring

  • Mosquito head net and repellent
  • Eye mask for the light nights
  • Gaiters for snow

Late July to August

High summer

Warmest and most stable weather, fewer mosquitoes later in August, but busiest huts.

Bring

  • Rain jacket
  • Warm layer
  • Book popular huts and boats

September

Autumn

Stunning autumn colours and the first northern lights, but cold nights, first snow on the tops and some huts closing.

Bring

  • Down jacket and hat
  • Headlamp
  • Check hut opening dates

What you'll see

6 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

Lyse Fjord et Preikestolen
LysebotnViewFromAbovePreikestolen
Near PreikestolenNoorwegen
Near Preikestolen
Near PreikestolenNoorwegen
Near Preikestolen

Gear for the Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Trekking poles Top pick: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: Lyse Fjord et Preikestolen by Clementp.fr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LysebotnViewFromAbovePreikestolen by Andreas Tille, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Noorwegen by rob Stoeltje from loenen, netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Preikestolen by Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Noorwegen by rob Stoeltje from loenen, netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Preikestolen by Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.