Preikestolen trailhead

Preikestolen is the flat-topped cliff 604 m above the Lysefjord and the Norwegian hike most people mean when they say one; the stop is its trailhead car park above Jørpeland, run by the non-profit Preikestolen foundation set up by the local municipalities and landowners. For a route it is a half-day: the foundation's trail page gives 8 km round trip, 500 m of climbing and about four hours, and its front page says four to five.

Timing: the foundation's pages say the busiest hours are 08:00 to 16:00, especially weekends in June, July and August, and that the trail itself is busiest between 08:00 and 10:00. Start before 08:00 or after 16:00 in summer. From September to March the days are short; on 15 December the sun is up from 09:23 to 15:37 at the cliff (computed, NOAA), which leaves about two hours of margin around a four-hour walk.

Parking has two areas, P1 with 400 car spaces, toilets and the information office, and P2 at Moslimyrå with 600; when both fill, hosts send cars to an overflow zone. Pay after the hike: NOK 275 for a car over two hours. Camping and sleeping in vehicles are forbidden. There are no toilets on the trail.

Safety, from the foundation: wear boots above the ankle, carry extra clothes, food, water, a map and a phone; in winter use spikes or crampons, start early and turn back before dark.