Pulpit rock (or Priekestolen) is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. Sitting 604m above Lyseford it offers amazing views, is within close proximity to Stavanger and it’s one of the relatively easier hikes in the region.
When to go
We visited in mid June, starting the hike around 12:30pm and luckily there weren’t too many people. This meant we could comfortably take photos without needing a queue for a long time and we weren’t constantly waiting for people to pass on the trail. I’ve heard that in July there are huge crowds! This actually makes the hike less enjoyable as you’re having to wait for people to pass on the trail and at the top there are so many people!
If you’re going in peak summer time you should start as early as possible or go later in the day to try to avoid the crowds. We found lunchtime to be a good time to start as the majority of people were actually on their way back having started at around 9/10am.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to Pulpit rock is to drive from Stavanger which takes around 45 minutes. The journey starts off with you driving through the Ryfyleketunnelen. There is a toll to drive through the tunnel which in June 2023 cost 171NOK each way (toll website here with latest prices). This is one of the longest and deepest under the sea tunnels!
It also costs 250NOK to park at Priekestolen.
What’s the hike like
Visit Norway classifies the hike as a moderate hike and states that it takes 2 hours each way. From the car park, the trail starts off quite steeply up the mountain. It will then level out and alternate between relatively easy sections across boardwalks and then a few further steep sections.
About halfway as you get your first glimpse of an amazing view of different islands and the sea. As you continue along the path you’ll end up walking past some beautiful lakes. You may even decide to jump in on the way back like we saw when we visited.
The last kilometre of the hike is quite easy and you are rewarded with views of Lyseford along the way. Then then you’ll see Pulpit Rock. The trail up took us about 1hr 45minutes and we stopped to have some lunch along the way up.
On the rock itself there are several great photo spots. You’ll see a queue in the middle of people waiting to get their photo taken on the edge! We spent about 45 minutes on the top, taking photos and eating the other half of our lunch. Then it was time to head back down.
Back near the car park, there is a shop and cafe. Here we treated ourselves to an ice cream which was much needed as it was a really warm day! There is also a water tap to refill your bottle & toilets.
Overall, we really enjoyed this hike, it wasn’t too strenuous and was suitable for the family. It’s also a great hike if you’re limited on time and want to experience the Norwegian fjords from up above.
