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Hiking The Pulpit Rock In Norway

by Zach & Kaitlan Bostock

Do you love the fresh crisp air on your face? The smell of pine, cobbled streets, wooden boardwalks, getting lost in the mountains and immersing yourself in the Fjords? Then Norway is for you! Zach and Kaitlan are an adventure-loving couple from Brisbane, Australia. They have set out on a trip of a lifetime to see more of the world and find unique corners along the way. Their trip started out on the opposite side of the world to Australia, in Norway - watch their video below and read on for their detailed account of this incredible place.

About:

Getting lost in the woods is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the Norwegian way. Preikestolen, otherwise known to English speakers as Pulpit Rock, is one of the most iconic natural landmarks in Norway. Known for its breath-taking views of the Norwegian Fjords and steep cliff faces, it sees more than 300,000 nature-loving hikers visit each year. Discovered in 1896 by bank manager and amateur hiker, Thomas Peter Randulff, when he was a passenger cruising the Fjords on a steamboat, Randulff looked up and noticed the striking rock formation coming out from the granite mountain.

Location: Just a 45-minute drive out of Stavanger. In peak season you can jump on a bus or alternatively use the ferry.

Distance: 8km return

Time: Allow for at least 4 hours of walking time.

Difficulty: Medium. During the off season there is ice and snow on the track therefore you will need to take ice spikes for your shoes (these can also be hired at the start of the hike).

Access: Preikestolen can be hiked all year round! Just keep an eye on the weather. The paid parking down the bottom of the trail makes for a great starting location. In peak season this can fill up quickly therefore there are other car parks on the way. The friendly staff will be able to assist you with the best place to park. The trail to the top is well marked with constant red trail markers along the way.

The rainy conditions that greeted Zach and Kaitlan wouldn't stop their hiking adventure. (Images courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)

Hike Preikestolen With Us:

If you are looking to beat the crowds, then the start of Spring is prime time to get out walking. You won't have to wait your turn at the top for a photo, and you will have no troubles getting a carpark in the main area. When we arrived at Preikestolen we were pleasantly surprised to find only a handful of cars there. Our overcast rainy day saw us wearing multiple layers and topping it off with our raincoat and rain pants. As we were in a new area it's always a great idea to check in with the locals to make sure the conditions are right for climbing, especially in the off season. The weather on the mountain can greatly differ from that in town. We had a quick chat with the staff who advised us that the conditions were right for climbing and we went to the store to hire some ice spikes for our hike to the top.

Breathtaking scenery greeted the couple at every turn. (Images courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)

Preikestolen is of medium difficulty and approximately 8km return, taking between 4-5 hours. Our hike ended up being an 11.25km trip return and there were plenty of stops along the way for great photo opportunities. The trail is made up of stones, stairs and boardwalks. It goes around lakes, on top of mountains and through swampland, and forests. Around halfway the scenery changed from forest to open lakes, which were frozen over. We also came across the Tibetan prayer flags and the stone stairways which were crafted by the Nepalese sherpas. They have done many other paths around Norway too. Their paths are known for reliability as the Sherpas are experts when it comes to tricky mountain pathing. You can see the love and care that has been put into the path and appreciate it that much more when you know that each stone was carried up the mountain and carefully handcrafted to make the perfect path.

Zach & Kaitlan Bostock's Trail — *The trail is made up of stones, stairs and boardwalks, that wind around lakes, over the top of mountains and through swampland and forests. (Image courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)*

*Ice underfoot. (Image courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)*

Just after the 2km mark the clear path started to turn icy. We stopped and popped on our ice spikes and off we went confidently trudging through the ice as we kept making our way to the end of the hike. Known as one of the most iconic natural landmarks in Norway it's safe to say the views along the walk were well worth it and made even better from the top of the 604m-high cliff. There is nothing quite like the Fjords Norway has. Once we made it to the top the rain settled, and we had a glimpse of the sun through the clouds. The views were breathtakingly beautiful.

Along the route — *Especially when the mercury heads towards freezing. (Image courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)*

The most spectacular views from the 604-metre-high cliff. (Images courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)

Epic. (Image courtesy of Zach & Kaitlan Bostock)

On the way back down, we pulled out our hiking poles to support us on the steep steps going down. We put them to the test through the different terrain and they proved to be helpful, and we made our way down in no time at all. If your adventures take you to the western side of Norway, then it is definitely worth the trip up Preikestolen. One thing to make note of is that if you do plan to head up in the off season like us and are hoping to catch some of the other great Norwegian walks such as Kjeragbolten or Trolltunga, just be sure to do your research as they are closed in the off season due to dangerous conditions.

As they say it's about the journey, not the destination and this is one journey that you'll be talking about for years to come. There is nothing quite like the Norwegian scenery from forests and lakes to cliff faces and Fjords. It's one for the memory book that's for sure!