The Pulpit Rock Hiking Advice
Pulpit Rock, known locally as Preikestolen, and located in Rogaland, Norway is one of the most beautiful spots in the country, offering the opportunity for incredible photographs. If you have admired spectacular pictures of Norway’s mountain scenery on sites such as Instagram, the chances are you’ve been looking at Pulpit Rock without even realizing!
However, as you might expect, to reach a viewpoint which offers such outstanding vistas involves a fairly vigorous hike. If you’re not sufficiently prepared for the challenges en route to Pulpit Rock, you could find it a struggle. Coming prepared, however, will make sure that the hike is a pleasure from start to finish!
Here’s the essential guide to hiking up Pulpit Rock and what you might see, including how to stay safe when you’re at the top.
About Pulpit Rock
Pulpit Rock is a flat plateau of rock that measures approximately 25m x 25m, offering wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. Jutting 604 meters in the air above Lysefjord, it’s possible to see all the way to Lysebotn which lies at the end of Lysefjord.
During the day Pulpit Rock can get very busy as it’s such a popular spot for tourists. Arriving just before the dawn provides the opportunity to see the glow of the morning sun bursting over the horizon in perfect serenity.
Preparing for the hike
The route up to Pulpit Rock is considered to be a relatively easy hike, and one that’s suitable for children as well as adults. However, don’t let this classification make you complacent, as it still involves a considerable trek up to the top and it’s imperative to be properly prepared.
There are some steep areas on the path so you’ll need to wear proper hiking shoes. Don’t be tempted to try and walk the trail in unsuitable footwear, such as regular running shoes, or flip flops, for that matter! Close to the summit, the trail narrows and there’s a dizzying drop so it’s essential to have proper footwear.
Whether you’re climbing up in the winter or the summer, take supplies for all eventualities. On the mountain the weather can swiftly change and the temperature can feel very different to sea level. This means having warm clothing, rainproof layers, lots of fluids and energy-packed food. You should also carry a map and a compass, even though there’s a marked trail. All of your provisions should be carried in a comfortable backpack.
The length of the hike depends on the starting point, but as an example the Pulpit Rock Sunrise Hike takes approximately 9-12 hours. Therefore, while it’s not the toughest uphill hike you will need to be reasonable fit to undertake the excursion. In winter it’s much more demanding and you’ll need to be much physically able to cope with the snow and ice.
Reaching the top
The route to the top of Pulpit Rock is generally very safe, with very few accidents. However, even when you’ve reached the top it’s important to bear safety in mind. Statistics show that there is a certain increase in accidents on the way to the Pulpit Rock.
A popular activity is to have a photo taken close to the edge. If you’re feeling daring you could even lie on your stomach and look down over the edge to the plunging drop below! Don’t forget to consider the wind before you get too close to the cliff-edge; when you’re so high up the gusts are much stronger than lower down the mountain. If in doubt, have your photo taken further back; it’s not worth risking your safety for the sake of a snap and risk «death by Instagram»!
Experience it first-hand
If Pulpit Rock sounds like the adventure you’ve been waiting to have, why not take steps to experience it for yourself? With so many excursions and options available from Fjord Tours, there’s no time like the present to plan a visit.
Photo: Fjord Norge/Mattias Fredriksson