Big 5 Travel

Preikestolen – The Pulpit Rock – is on top of Lonely Planet´s list of “Most Breathtaking Viewing Platforms”.

Pulpit Rock is among the most famous tourist attractions in Norway.
The hiking destination is also Norway’s most popular and spectacular,
with more than 200 000 visitors every year. No other tourist attraction in the country encourages people to walk so far to experience the magnificent and unspoilt nature of the fjords and mountains.

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Preikestolen is located in the southern part of the Ryfylke district in Rogaland county.
You can now reach the parking facility at Preikestolen in only 40 minutes from Stavanger by car. This is thanks to Ryfast –
a 14,3 km undersea tunnel that connects the municipalities of Stavanger and Strand.

I guess it must have been 25 years since I last visited the Pulpit Rock, or “Preikestolen” as we say in Norwegian. At that time there were no stone stairways!..
It was time to do this hike once more and get some nice photos for my article about Ryfylke.
I started from my home town Stavanger and reached the parking lot for Preikestolen in only 40 min. Now that we got the Ryfast tunnel system (established December 2019), connecting Stavanger and Strand by a very long undersea tunnel, we are closer to Ryfylke! Ryfast by the way – became the longest undersea road tunnel in the world!

The hike to Preikestolen is of moderate difficulty. It takes about 4-5 hours (round trip) from Preikestolhytta, even though it is only 8 km in total.
There is a difference in altitude of 330 meters, ( Pulpit Rock at 604 m), and the hike spans all sorts of terrains, including swampland, forests, and stone stairways built by Nepalese sherpas.

My tour was at the beginning of May and still very few tourists due to the coronavirus restrictions. I could only see 2 people about 400 m in front of me. No one behind. This is not common, but I like it when it is not crowded.
The first climb is quite steep but offers a great view – even as far as Stavanger. Then a good path, well-marked, leads you to a steep climb up some large boulders in a ravine.

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Krogabekkmyra (bog area) is coated with wooden planks to protect the vegetation from trampling.

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At the steepest part, there is a sign that says the path was upgraded by sherpas from Nepal during seasons of 2013-14. After passing this part, you will come to Neverdalsskaret with a sign for paths going to Bakken and Lysebotn. Close to the top, there were still some snow patches in shady areas. As I began to approach the top, I walked a little off the beaten path.
A beautiful chaffinch came jumping around, maybe I was too close to its nest…

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Suddenly you are there. The Pulpit Rock is in front of you, – 604 metres above the fjord. Amazing!

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The towering cliff plateau is fascinating. It is almost flat on the top and is in the shape of a square measuring approximately 25 by 25 meters ( 82 by 82 ft.). Many do what they have been looking forward to – enjoy a photo session – standing or sitting close to the edge – with the beautiful Lysefjorden in the background!
As you can see, there were not many people around that day. Under normal circumstances, it would be quite crowded at the plateau. There were only 4-6 people when I came. I sat down in the middle of the plateau, having my lunch and enjoyed the surroundings. The view is absolutely breathtaking!
And of course – I had my photo session as well,-

I also climbed up the hill behind to get a great view down onto the Pulpit Rock:

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After this  – it was time to start the trek back downhill. Around an hour later I could once more see Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.

Preikestolen Mountain Lodge

The old Preikestolhytta – now called Preikestolen Cabin Hostel – was built in 1949 by STF (Stavanger Turistforening). STF is a member of DNT, The Norwegian Trekking Association. In 2008 a new Preikestolen Mountain Lodge was built.
The Trekking Association wanted to provide for the new needs with a new facility but still wished to retain some of the unpretentiousness that is typical of Norwegian mountain lodges. In 2004, they announced a local architecture competition, which was won by Helen & Hard. The lodge consists of a folded roof and a bearing rib structure, built from prefabricated massive timber elements called Holz100. The elements are made with layered planks in different directions joined using beech dowels producing a strong bond without glue.
Preikestolen Mountain Lodge is a Norwegian Wood project. Norwegian Wood was an important part of Stavanger European Culture Capital 2008, organised by NAL | Ecobox and Stavanger Municipality. The projects gave particularly high priority to ecology and sustainability and were required to meet stringent criteria concerning innovative use of wood, environmentally friendly use of materials, low energy consumption and universal design.
Preikestolen mountain lodge was in 2009 awarded the “Statens byggeskikkpris” – a prize it got for its “excellent design where innovative wooden architecture, environment and urban understanding are in focus.”

The Lodge is a year-round facility with various accommodation concepts, a kiosk and cafe, the sale of souvenirs, the rental of hiking equipment, and a restaurant.

From the summer of 2019, Preikestolen Fjellstue and associated buildings and property are owned and operated by the tourism company Norwegian Experience.

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PULPIT ROCK

• The cliff was formed during the ice age, approximately 10,000 years ago, when the edges of the glacier reached the cliff. 
• The Pulpit Rock was discovered in 1896 and the first tourist travelled to the top of Preikestolen in the early 1900s,
• Preikestolen has been the scene of countless media and PR stunts. The latest and maybe most famous ‘happening’ at Preikestolen has been the filming of the most action-filled scenes of the latest installment of Mission Impossible, ‘Mission Impossible 6 – Fallout’, starring Tom Cruise. However, in the movie, the scene from Preikestolen is set in Kashmir in India.
• The nearly flat plateau is in the shape of a square and measures approximately 25 meters in depth and width ( 82 by 82 ft.)
• Legends say that Preikestolen will fall into the sea on the day 7 brothers marry 7 sisters, when the wedding party rows through the fjord on their way to church.