Pulpit Rock Hike on Spectacular Preikestolen | Your Complete Guide

Stunning Preikestolen stands proud, high above the impressive Lysefjord. This iconic cliff, formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago, towers over 1,900’ (600 m) above the fjord and offers stunning panoramic views. Its hike, known as the Pulpit Rock hike, is one of the most popular hikes in Norway, and the only way to get to its peak. Whether you’re an experienced or a casual hiker, with patience and determination, you can complete this 2 to 4 hour hike. This guide provides everything you need to know about the Pulpit Rock hike, including trail details, essential tips, best times to hike, and the best ways to get here.

Pulpit Rock Hike

The Pulpit Rock trail is considered a moderate hike. It’s about 5 miles round trip (8 km) with 1,640’ (500 m) of elevation gain. The trail leads you up granite steps through the forest, across marshes via wooden bridges, past lakes, over rocky outcrops, and up steep staircases to its incredible viewpoint above the fjord.

You need to have a good level of fitness and be able to hike on varied terrain for about 2 to 4 hours. The entire hike will take longer, as you will want to stay at the top to enjoy the view, rest, and take photos. Because of this, the total hike will take you about 4 to 5 hours.

The trail starts as a gravel trail from the base camp and parking area. It quickly turns into walking on a series of large granite stones that you use as stepping stones and stairs. This lower part of the trail is moderately steep. It’s also one of the busiest parts of the trail.

Depending on the day and time, after you pass some of the rocky outcrops (where many stop to rest) and cross the bridges in the relatively flat, marshy areas, the crowd starts to thin out. On my hike, this happened after the first half hour.

About half way up the trail, you will pass the Tjodnane Lakes.

After this, the trail starts to level out into an open, rocky area.

Soon after this, you will come upon your first glimpse of the Lysefjord in the distance. This is when you know you are close to the summit.

After your first glimpse of the Lysefjord, there is just a little bit more trail until you reach its unique, flat plateau, which was sheared off by glaciers.

The views at the top are spectacular and well worth the effort of the hike up. There are no fences, though, so be cautious. The edge is raw to maximize the view.

Even if it’s busy at the top, which it usually is, people are generally helpful and take turns taking photos at the best spots.

Best Time To Hike Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock is the top natural landmark in Norway, so can be very busy. It’s best to hike during the week, especially Tuesday through Thursday, to avoid its busiest times.

In order to enjoy the stunning view, it’s best to hike on a sunny or partly sunny day. You can check the Preikestolen 14 day weather forecast, but be aware that the weather forecast changes daily, so picking a day to hike in advance is a bit of a gamble. Summer months often see 18 to 21 days of rain, so know that it rains more often than not. If you can, it’s best to spend a few days in the area, either staying in Stavanger, or even closer, at Preikestolen Base Camp, to pick the best day to hike.

You can hike Pulpit Rock year round, although most people hike this trail in the summer. Especially during the months of July and August. As the sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year, check the sunrise and sunset times to plan your hike. If you hike in the summer, when it’s the busiest, it’s best to hike early morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.

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Essential Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure your hike up Pulpit Rock goes smoothly.

• As noted above, it’s best to hike early morning or later in afternoon to avoid the crowds. If you hike in the afternoon, check sunset times to ensure you are back before dark or hike. It’s a good idea to have a good torch or flashlight just in case.
• Check the weather in advance and dress accordingly. It’s best to wear layers, as it will be cooler at the summit. Also, the weather can change very quickly here, so it’s best to always be prepared for rain.
• Wear good hiking shoes. The terrain is varied, but you will mostly be walking on granite stepping stones or rock. Surfaces that are uneven and can be slippery when wet.
• If you have knee issues, wear knee support or hike with trekking poles.
• Bring plenty of water and some snacks for along the way. There is a clean water source near the bathrooms at the base camp to fill water bottles or backpack bladders. It is advised to treat any water sources you discover along the trail before drinking. There is a cafe and a shop that has a few snacks at the base, but it’s best to bring your own.
• Know your capabilities and stop to rest if you feel tired.
• If the weather turns bad, with heavy rain, fog, or ice, turn around rather than completing the hike.
• Do not leave any trash behind. Always carry everything out that you bring in.
• Be polite when taking photos to let others have time near the edge as well.
• The only toilets are at the base of the trail.
• There is no camping or overnight sleeping at Preikestolen.

How To Get To Pulpit Rock

There are multiple ways to get to Pulpit Rock, including self-driving, bus, guided hike, or cruise and hike combined (self-guided).

Self-Drive

If you self-drive to Preikestolen, there are parking areas at the base of the trail. P1 parking is closest to the trailhead. If P1 is full, you may be directed to P2, which adds a kilometer to your hike. There is also an overflow lot. You pay for parking after the hike. There is a machine near the bathroom facility. It accepts credit cards.

The drive from Stavanger to the parking area at Preikestolen is about 45 minutes. The best route takes you through the Ryfylke Tunnel, which is the world’s longest and deepest underwater tunnel!

If you drive from Bergen, it is over 5 hours each way, so it will be a long day. This route includes two ferry crossings. For the ferries, rental cars are equipped with scanners, so you just queue in the ferry line and drive on when cued. The rides are both about 20 minutes, so lock your car and sit on the deck or inside the ferry for the ride. There is a cafe for meals or snacks. These ferries run frequently so there is usually not a long wait.

Bus

For public transportation from Stavanger to Pulpit Rock, Pulpit Rock Tours and Go Fjords are the most common options. The former offers the most times. It’s best to book in advance as they book up quickly.

If you want to do the entire trip from Bergen to Pulpit Rock in one day, look at Kystbussen for bus trips between Bergen and Stavanger. It’s about 5 hours each way, so it will be a very long day, but you may be able to find times that coordinate with one of the buses above. These buses use the ferry crossing noted above too.

Guided Hike

You can get to Pulpit Rock as a guided hike. This tour, Preikestolen | Pulpit Rock – Hike with a local guide, picks you up from your hotel in Stavanger and offers small group guided hikes. The trip picks up and drop off at select hotels and Stavanger and lasts 7-8 hours.

Lysefjord Cruise & Hike

Another option from Stavanger is to book a cruise on the Lysefjord that includes a bus ticket to and from Pulpit Rock at the end. This is great as you get to see Preikestolen from the sea and from the summit. I recommend this one: Stavanger: Lysefjorden Cruise and Preikestolen Hike.

This is what I did and really enjoyed it. The photo below shows Preikestolen from the cruise (the arrow points to the Pulpit Rock plateau that you hike to). It’s equally dizzying from either perspective.

The downside of the cruise/hike combo is that you reach the trailhead after lunch, which is when the trail is usually the most crowded. I would still chose this again, however, as the cruise is beautiful. It was also pretty cool to be able to see the summit of Pulpit Rock from the fjord before you hike it. Plus, I was able to break free of the crowds after the first half hour of my hike, so it was really not that bad.

With your cruise ticket, which leaves from the Stavanger harbor, you also get a ticket for the bus from Forsand Quay, where the boat drops you off, and from Preikestolen back to Stavanger. The return buses leave Preikestolen almost hourly, so you have some freedom on your return time. You just need to show the driver the QR code on your ticket to board the bus back to Stavanger. This is a frequently-traveled option, so it works seamlessly, even though you’re not sure exactly what to do until you get to each transition point.

Where To Stay To Hike Pulpit Rock

If you chose to stay in Stavanger, which is a lovely little seaside town, I recommend staying in the harbor area, near, or across from Gamle Stavanger. This is the historic city center. It’s the prettiest and liveliest area.

• I stayed at Home Hotel Skagen Brygge, in a room overlooking the harbor, and really liked it. The location is perfect, near sites in Stavanger, and it is clean and comfortable. Staff was also very nice. A buffet breakfast, an afternoon snack, and a buffet dinner is included in the price of the room. Ask for a sea view when you check in and they will try to upgrade you for a small fee.
• Hotel Victoria is another option that gets great reviews and offer views of the sea. Breakfast is included with most rooms.
• Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel, Stavanger is another popular option. It is located closer to town, right next to the bus station. It’s nice, it’s just not very scenic and it’s a little removed from the main sights.
• Also check Airbnb as there are some cute rentals in the old Gamle homes. The downside of this is that there will be people walking by the house exploring the area, possibly making a lot of noise. Also the cruise boats sits on this side of the harbor, blocking your view.

If you’re a serious hiker and prefer to stay at Preikestolen, the rooms as Preikestolen Base Camp sit right at the base of the trail. The downside to staying here is that you miss the charming seaside town of Stavanger. Also, make sure to read the reviews, as many people complain about the lack of sound proofing. Plus, Pulpit Rock is not really that difficult of a hike that you need to stay at the base (unlike Trolltunga), unless you are set on being the very first person up the mountain in the morning.

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Safe Travels!

Julie