Hiking Preikestolen Guide and Tips: Ultimate Norway Day Trip

As I mentally prepared myself for what could very well be the end of me, I never took into account that hiking Preikestolen could test my patience. My will not to cry in public yes, but not my patience.

You see my year-long trip had made me a touch soft and very out of shape, something I came to realize while hiking Lions Head in Cape Town and almost throwing up climbing the city walls of Kotor.

What I didn’t realize is that hiking Preikestolen is one of the most popular treks in Norway. So much so that queuing up for a turn on the jaw-dropping rock face is common. This was news to me.

After talking to the helpful staff at the Stavanger Region tourism office my visions of being hunched over gasping for air in privacy were replaced with an audience and long lines in the most beautiful place in the world. Still, hiking Preikestolen has long been on my buck list, and I was eager to tick it off.

Here’s how it went.

Preikestolen Hiking – Getting There from Stravanger

The trailhead for hiking Preikestolen is located 60 kilometres from Stavanger. Getting there couldn’t be easier. It is a short ferry ride from downtown Stavanger to Tau then a 25-minute drive away. Although you can take a bus there, renting a car is recommended. For ferry schedule, bus info, and costs see here!

We aimed to be there early to minimize the crowds. On the boat ride over I began prepping myself for the hoards of tourists but when we pulled up and found only one other couple we began to question the popularity. I should also note that the couple was in full hiking gear and I was wearing what little I had on me for activewear – which, for touring around the world, is also my 2nd nicest evening wear.

With a “this should be interesting,” we were off.

Preikestolen Hiking Starting Point (Preikestolen BaseCamp)

The Preikestolen hiking starting point is located at Preikestolen BaseCamp in Norway’s Ryfylke region near Jørpeland. This is the official trailhead for the hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and the most convenient place to begin your adventure, with organized parking, modern facilities, and clear signage marking the route.

Where the Preikestolen Hiking Starting Point Is Located

The Preikestolen hiking starting point sits approximately:

• 40–45 minutes by car from Stavanger
• 25 minutes from Jørpeland

From Stavanger, most visitors drive through the Ryfast tunnel system beneath the fjord before following clearly marked signs toward the trailhead.

Parking & Facilities at the Trailhead

The large, paid parking lot at Preikestolen BaseCamp is open year-round (weather permitting) and serves as the central hub for hikers. In peak summer months, it fills quickly — especially between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM — so arriving early or later in the day can make a noticeable difference.

Facilities include:

• Modern washrooms
• Café and restaurant
• Water refill stations
• Tourist information and small gear shop
• Seasonal shuttle connections

There’s also on-site lodging, making it easy to stay overnight and begin your hike early the next morning — a smart strategy during busy travel periods.

What to Expect When You Arrive

Unlike many remote Norwegian trailheads, the Preikestolen hiking starting point is well developed, clearly marked, and easy to navigate. From the main parking area at BaseCamp, signage immediately directs you toward the trail, making Preikestolen hiking surprisingly straightforward from the very first steps.

You’ll quickly notice the professionally built stone staircases — part of a sustainable trail project designed to reduce erosion and improve safety. These sections make hiking to Preikestolen more accessible than many people expect, though the climb is still steady and requires a moderate level of fitness.

The full route is approximately 8 km round trip, gradually ascending through forested sections, over smooth granite slabs, and across rolling rocky terrain. As you gain elevation while hiking Preikestolen, the landscape opens up with sweeping views before you reach the dramatic cliff edge towering 604 metres above Lysefjord.

If you’re incorporating this into a broader Norway road trip, the organized infrastructure and clear trail design make Preikestolen hiking one of the most achievable and rewarding fjord hikes to add to your itinerary.

Hiking to Preikestolen

Hiking Preikestolen should take 4 hours up-and-down. The trail is well marked and well walked. In recent years, Norway brought in actual sherpas from the Himalayas to help reconstruct the trail. This effort is visible with a mix of boardwalks through meadows, stone stairways, and cliffhanging switchbacks. Pretty impressive but I suppose so when you bring in the big guns.

The trail is surprisingly easygoing with minimal elevation. It was also surprisingly quiet for this late fall climb. No sweaty mess in public today!

Along with being well-built and easygoing, the scenery on the way up is as great as the vantage point. Our late October stroll gave us amazing colours and the lake 3/4’s of the way up provided a beautiful backdrop for me hunched over catching my breath.

Preikestolen Views

Standing atop the 604-metre cliff quite literally took my breath away. Not just because of the sweeping views over Lysefjord — and not because of questionable eating habits in the months leading up to the trip — but because after hiking to Preikestolen, we had the summit almost entirely to ourselves.

The couple outfitted in full technical gear and trekking poles had already begun their descent, leaving this iconic slab of granite — one of Norway’s most photographed natural landmarks — unexpectedly quiet. After completing the steady climb involved in Preikestolen hiking, I had fully expected crowds, lines for photos, and a constant buzz of hikers rotating through.

Instead, there we were. Just the two of us, suspended above the fjord, soaking in the stillness after hiking Preikestolen. For nearly 25 minutes, the view — and the silence — felt entirely ours. It was rare, surreal, and easily one of the most unforgettable moments of the hike.

Post Preikestolen Hiking Celebrations

After our picnic lunch was cut short by a group of chatty mountain climbing Mormons (those guys are everywhere!) I explored the views from above. Although pictures of Preikestolen would have you believe it is the edge of the world, you can climb even higher and can get an interesting look at the cliff.

With the short daylight of the fall we started our hiking Preikestolen descent. On the trek down we met several groups still on their way up, which was a surprise. Going early (around 9 AM) proved to be key in enjoying this bucket list stop to ourselves.

To celebrate our safe return we visited the Preikestolen Fjellstue, a beautiful lodge and restaurant at the trailhead. Ordering a beer, the hostess reconfirmed how lucky we were to have our day hiking Preikestolen to ourselves. The week prior there was no vacancy at the lodge and the trail was packed.

Lucky us.

But then again, crowds or not, I already knew this.

Hiking Preikestolen Good to Know

Get in: Take the ferry from city centre to Tau then drive 25 minutes to the starting point. Ferry is NOK 147 + NOK 49 per passenger one way.
Ferry Timetable info: http://www.regionstavanger.com/en/Product/?TLp=510644

Tips:

• Arrive early for less crowds and longer daylight.
• Give yourselves 2 hours each way.
• Bring food and water. Lots of water.
• Parking costs ~NOK 100 a day.

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This bucket list day hiking Preikestolen was made possible by The Stavanger Region.
The experience, opinions, and amazing views are my own.