Booking choice: The guided hike with a local guide, 6 hours. Book this Tour details
About 300,000 people a year hike to Preikestolen, and fatal falls are rare. Rescues for tired, injured or badly equipped hikers are not. Visit Norway says they happen every year.
This guide covers the edge, the reported accidents, the famous crack, the weather and what changes with children or a fear of heights. Everything is sourced, because the internet is full of scary pages about this cliff that get the facts wrong.
The quick answer
Yes, for a prepared hiker who stays back from the edge. There are no railings, and two fatal falls have been reported in the news (2013 and 2024). Geologists studied the crack in 2018 and found the plateau stable. Most trouble comes from bad shoes, late starts and wind, fog or ice.
Is Preikestolen dangerous?
The trail is moderate; the danger is the unfenced cliff edge and weather, not the hike itself.
The path is well marked and graded medium by Visit Norway. Accidents on the trail are mostly slips on wet rock and exhaustion, which is why boots and enough time matter.
On top, the 604 m drop has no fence. The plateau is about 25 by 25 m, so there is room to sit, eat and take photos several metres back. Our rule: stay a body length or more from the lip unless you are lying flat.
Has anyone fallen off Preikestolen?
Yes, but rarely: news reports cover a fatal fall in October 2013 and another in June 2024.
In October 2013 a Spanish tourist fell about 600 m after going back for last photos as his group left. The Local reported it as the first time a tourist had fallen from the rock. In June 2024 a man in his 40s travelling alone fell; a witness said he slipped, and police treated it as an accident.
Be wary of pages titled “Preikestolen deaths”: several mix in accidents from other Norwegian cliffs.
Are there railings or fences at Preikestolen?
No. There are no railings on the plateau or along the cliff-side sections of the trail.
The foundation's advice is to take extra care with children where the trail runs alongside high cliffs. Gusts arrive without warning on the plateau, and Visit Norway mentions them by name.
Keep bags and phones away from the edge, never step back while framing a photo, and sit down if the wind picks up.
Will the crack make Preikestolen fall?
No sign of it: a 2018 stability study found the plateau safe, and the crack has been monitored for decades.
A crack about half a metre wide runs across the plateau. It has been watched since the 1930s, with bolts on both sides to measure any widening. In 2017 readings suggested 2 to 3 mm of movement, and the Geological Survey of Norway then said earlier measurements had proven inaccurate, according to The Local.
A full study followed, using helicopter and drone photogrammetry, ground laser scanning and rock tests. The 2018 stability analysis concluded Preikestolen is not in danger of falling. The only prophecy left is the old legend: the rock falls when seven brothers marry seven sisters.
How often do hikers need rescuing at Preikestolen?
Every year, mostly for exhaustion, injuries or poor equipment rather than falls from the edge.
In July 2019, Norwegian People's Aid reported more rescues on the trail in one week than in the whole previous year, as reported by Life in Norway. The same report said many visitors did not realise the round trip takes about four hours.
Emergency numbers: 112 for police and 113 for an ambulance. Mountain rescue for southern Norway is on +47 51 51 70 00.
Not sure about the trail? A local guide sets the pace, watches the group and makes the turn-back call.
Book thisIs it safe to hike Preikestolen in wind, rain or fog?
Not when strong wind, heavy rain or fog is forecast: Visit Norway's advice is to stay off the trail.
Rain falls on 17 to 26 days a month on average, according to Preikestolen365, so a wet hike is normal. Wet granite is slippery and slows the descent. Wind and fog are the real reasons to postpone: gusts on an unfenced plateau, and no view when you get there.
Check yr.no for the forecast, and the trail conditions on Preikestolen365. In ice and snow, read the winter guide first.
Is Preikestolen safe for kids and people afraid of heights?
For kids, yes with close supervision; with a fear of heights, most of the trail is fine, but the last stretch runs along the cliffs.
Hold hands near the cliff-side sections and on the plateau. The guided tours set minimum ages of 6 or 7, and the winter tour listing says it is not suitable for people with fear of heights or vertigo.
Most of the hike is forest, marsh and granite steps with no drop beside you. Nervous? Walk to where you feel fine and stop there. The view from a few metres back is the same view. Or see the cliff from below on a fjord cruise.
What about the famous edge photos and Mission Impossible?
The film scene was shot with rescue teams securing the set; the legs-over-the-edge photo has no such backup, so skip it.
The climax of Mission: Impossible - Fallout was filmed on Preikestolen in November 2017, with the plateau closed to the public on filming days. Local mountaineers and rescue teams handled the climbing and safety work, according to Preikestolen365.
A good photo needs a second person and some distance, not a stunt at the lip. Wait your turn, step out when it is calm, and get back.
Go up with a local guide who knows the plateau, its wind and its safe photo spots. Lunch is included.
Book this Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Has Preikestolen ever collapsed?
No. The crack has been monitored since the 1930s, and the 2018 stability study concluded the plateau is not in danger of falling.
Is there phone signal on the trail?
Coverage in the mountains is patchy, and Visit Norway warns against relying on phone maps. Follow the red T markings.
What number do I call in an emergency?
Call 112 for police or 113 for an ambulance. Mountain rescue for southern Norway is on +47 51 51 70 00.
Is it safe to hike Preikestolen alone?
In summer, with good weather and an early start, yes. Tell someone your route and return time, and turn back if conditions change.
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
Electric Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord & Preikestolen
- Round-trip cruise from Stavanger
- Fully electric catamaran with panoramic windows
- Sun deck and indoor seating
