Preikestolen this winter

When does winter start at Preikestolen?

In practice, in November. Snow and ice can arrive earlier on the upper slabs, and Visit Norway counts November to April as the winter season.

Three things change at once. The last weekend hiker buses of the 2026 season run on 1 November. The days shrink fast: by late November the sun is up for under seven hours in Stavanger, and near the solstice it rises around 09:30 and sets before 16:00. And the granite slabs near the top, which are just rough rock in summer, can be glazed with ice.

The Preikestolen Foundation warns that weather and trail conditions change quickly off-season and that the path gets slippery and icy. Staff at the car park may tell you to put spikes on before you start. Do it.

What are the latest start times this winter?

The foundation publishes a 'don't start after' time for every month: 12:00 in November, 11:00 in December and January, 12:00 in February, 13:00 in March and 15:00 in April.

These come from the official when-to-go page. The table lists November and February as '12:00 am', which can only mean noon. Treat the times as hard limits for a hike without a guide. If you're at the car park later than that, walk one of the short BaseCamp routes instead.

The averages explain why. The top of the trail sits around freezing for most of the season, and November is the wettest month of the year there.

Can you hike Preikestolen without a guide in winter?

You can, nobody stops you. The official advice from Visit Norway and Fjord Norway is to take a guide from November to April.

If you go alone anyway, follow the car-park staff's advice, which is exactly what Visit Norway tells independent winter hikers to do. Rent spikes and a head torch at the Adventure Center at Preikestolen BaseCamp. It is open all year at the trailhead, and you can't book gear ahead (you don't need to).

Skip it entirely with children under 5: the foundation advises against bringing them in winter. Turn back on wind, heavy rain or fog in the forecast. The plateau has no railings, and frozen rock near a 604 m drop leaves no margin. Our safety guide covers the edge in more detail.

Which guided winter tours run in 2026-27?

Rødne's winter cruise and hike is the main one: Thursday to Sunday from November to March, daily in April. A few local guides run pickup hikes too.

Rødne sails from Strandkaien in Stavanger at 11:00, reaches Forsand quay at 13:20 and drives you to the mountain lodge. The hike runs from about 14:00 to 19:00, which means the descent is in the dark for most of the season. That's why the head lamp is in the kit. On GetYourGuide, the same trip is listed at 9 hours with eight people at most, ages 8 and up, and free cancellation up to 2 days before (not the usual 24 hours).

Other options book direct. Lysefjorden Adventure runs a guided winter hike with hotel pickup at 07:00 and spikes or snowshoes when needed. Explore Lysefjorden lists a December to March winter hike for up to eight people with crampons and poles.

The calm way to do it: a fjord cruise to Forsand, then a small group on the trail with a guide who knows the ice.

★ 4.7 · 9 hours

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How do you get to Preikestolen in winter without a car?

Without the hiker buses, the options are a tour with transport, or the Kolumbus local bus to Jørpeland and a taxi for the last stretch.

Pulpit Rock Tours runs its last 2026 departures on the weekend of 1 November, and its spring service in 2026 only began on 21 March. Go Fjords runs April to October. In between, Fjord Norway describes the public route: Kolumbus bus 100 from Stavanger to Solbakk (about 30 minutes), then a connecting bus to Jørpeland. The car park is about 3 km past Jørpeland up a steep road, and the regular buses don't go there, so plan on a taxi.

A guided tour solves the transport and the timing in one go. If you have a car, the hiker bus post isn't for you: drive road 13 through the Ryfylke tunnel, about 40 minutes.

What should you pack for a winter hike?

Spikes, a head torch, warm layers, a hat, gloves and proper hiking boots. Add a map and compass, because phone coverage can drop out.

• On your feet: waterproof hiking boots and two pairs of warm socks. No trainers.
• Traction: shoe spikes or crampons. Rent them at BaseCamp if you don't own a pair.
• Light: a head torch with fresh batteries, even if you plan to be down by 15:00.
• Layers: a wool or fleece mid layer, a windproof and waterproof shell, hat and gloves.
• Safety: a charged phone, map, compass and a small first aid kit. Emergency numbers are 112 (police) and 113 (ambulance).
• Food and water: there are no refill points on the trail, so bring a flask of something hot.

March is the sweet spot of the season: five hours of sunshine on average, a 13:00 start limit and snow still on the plateau. Our winter guide goes deeper on conditions month by month.

Frequently asked questions