Booking choice: The guided hike with a local guide, 6 hours. Book this Tour details
Preikestolen is the hike most visitors to Stavanger do, and it is shorter than its fame suggests. The official figures from Visit Norway are about 8 km return, about 500 m of climbing and roughly 4 hours. Most fit adults manage it without trouble.
This guide breaks those numbers down: how long each half takes, where the climbing actually is, what the grade means, whether kids cope, and the latest hour you can safely start in each month.
The quick answer
About 4 hours for the round trip: roughly 2 hours up and 2 hours down over about 8 km, plus time on top. The official climb is about 500 m once every up and down is counted, and the grade is moderate.
How long does it take to hike to Preikestolen?
Allow about 2 hours each way and about 4 hours for the round trip, then add time for breaks and the plateau.
The official sources land on the same window, give or take an hour. Slower groups and families with young children often need longer, and on a busy summer morning you can lose time in the queue for photos at the edge.
Our advice: budget five hours from the car park and back. That leaves room for a proper lunch on top without watching the clock.
| Source | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Visit Norway | Not split | About 4 hours |
| Fjord Norway | About 2 hours | About 4 hours |
| Wikipedia | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours |
| Guided hike | Not split | The listing states about 4 hours of hiking, 6 hours door to door |
How long is the Preikestolen trail in km?
About 4 km each way and about 8 km return on the main trail from Preikestolen Parking.
The official sites round to 4 km and 8 km. Wikipedia gives a slightly shorter 3.8 km each way. The difference does not change your day.
Longer options exist. The hidden trail hike uses a quieter back-country route, and the listing states about 9 km round trip. The signed Lysefjord Panorama Trail starts near Jørpeland and follows the fjord edge to the trailhead, a far bigger day graded red.
Want someone else to handle the bus, the timing and the pace? A local guide walks the main trail with you, from the cruise terminal and back.
Book thisHow much elevation gain is there on the Preikestolen hike?
About 500 m of total climbing by the official count, but only about 330-350 m of net height gain from the trailhead to the top.
The trail starts at about 270 m above sea level and the plateau sits at 604 m, so the straight height difference is around 334 m. The official 500 m figure from Preikestolen365 counts every climb, including the ridges you go up, down and up again.
That is why the hike feels harder than the net figure suggests. You climb in three or four short, steep bursts, with easier ground between them.
How hard is the Preikestolen hike?
Moderate: Visit Norway calls it medium difficulty, and Fjord Norway grades it red (challenging) while noting the trail is well prepared.
The grading sounds scarier than it is. The red grade in the Norwegian system reflects the steep stone steps and uneven rock, not exposure on the path itself. Fjord Norway adds that the trail is well prepared, so most people can reach the top.
What makes it tiring is the footing. Wet granite, roots and big steps work your knees on the way down. Visit Norway asks for proper boots and warns against jeans and trainers. If a few flights of stairs leave you winded at home, expect a long morning, and go slow on the descent.
What are the different sections of the trail?
A gravel road start, a gradual climb over marsh and boardwalks, steep Sherpa steps, a small lake at Tjødnane, then the cliff-top walk to the plateau.
- The first 500 m: a winding gravel road that climbs more than 80 m from the car park. Steep for a warm-up.
- The middle: a gradual climb through forest and marsh, with bridges and boardwalks over the wettest ground.
- The steps: granite staircases on the steepest parts, built by Nepalese Sherpas between 2013 and 2018, according to the Preikestolen foundation.
- Tjødnane: a small lake about 1 km before the top, the classic rest stop.
- The last stretch: open rock along the fjord until the square plateau, about 25 by 25 m, comes into view.
Section details are from Fjord Norway.
Can kids do the Preikestolen hike?
Yes, many families do it, but keep children close on the cliff-side sections and dress carried toddlers warmly.
The foundation's hiking page says part of the trail runs alongside high cliffs and asks parents to take extra care there. Children in carriers sit still and get cold faster than the adult carrying them. In winter it does not recommend the hike for children under 5.
Guided tours set their own limits. The guided hike listing states ages 7 and up; the small-group hike with pickup states ages 6 and up. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
What is the latest time to start the Preikestolen hike?
It depends on the month: from 11:00 in December and January to 17:30 in June and July, by the official table.
These are the latest start times published by Preikestolen365 so that you are back before dark. The page lists February and November as “12:00 am”, which almost certainly means noon.
In summer the busiest departures run from about 08:00 to 10:00. Start before 08:00, or after about 16:00 in June and July, and the trail feels like a different place.
| Month | Latest start | Month | Latest start |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11:00 | July | 17:30 |
| February | 12:00 | August | 16:30 |
| March | 13:00 | September | 14:30 |
| April | 15:00 | October | 13:00 |
| May | 16:30 | November | 12:00 |
| June | 17:30 | December | 11:00 |
The guided hike times the day for you: pickup at the Stavanger cruise terminal, about 4 hours on the trail, lunch included.
Book this Tour detailsHow long should you plan for the whole day?
From Stavanger, count on about 6 hours door to door: around 40-50 minutes each way plus the hike.
The drive through the Ryfast tunnels takes about 40 minutes, and the hiker buses take about 50 minutes, according to Preikestolen365. Go Fjords suggests cruise passengers allow about 6 hours in total. The guided tour from the cruise terminal is listed at 6 hours.
A relaxed day with lunch on top and a stop at the lake is closer to 7 hours. For the full transport picture, read how to do it without a guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Preikestolen hike suitable for beginners?
Yes, if you have normal fitness and proper boots. It is graded moderate, the path is well marked, and the steep parts are on built stone steps. Go slowly on the descent.
Is there water or a toilet on the trail?
No. Toilets are in the service building at the car park, and there are no water refill points on the trail, so carry enough for about four hours.
Can I hike Preikestolen at sunset?
In summer, yes: the official latest start is 17:30 in June and July. Bring a head torch anyway, because the descent takes about two hours.
Do I need hiking boots?
Visit Norway recommends proper hiking boots with ankle support and says no jeans or trainers. The rock is often wet.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation on every option: up to 24 hours before on most, 2 days on the winter trip.
Preikestolen Hike with a Local Guide
- Guided hike, about 4 hours on the trail
- Bus from the Stavanger cruise terminal and back
- Snacks, water and lunch
Pulpit Rock Small-Group Hike with Pickup
- Guide who is also the licensed driver
- Pickup from central Stavanger hotels or the port
- A Norwegian hiking snack
Preikestolen Hidden Nature Trail Hike
A quiet back trail to the rock, max 8 people
