Winterhike Preikestolen Norway Tips

The Preikestolen is perhaps Norway’s most famous hike: a large, high rock and a beautiful view over the Lysefjord! We made the hike to the Preikestolen in the winter of 2022/2023 during our winter roadtrip through Norway. In this article you will find some general information and tips about the hike to the Preikestolen in winter.

How to Get There?

We stayed in Sandnes and made a day trip to the Preikestolen from there. It is possible to reach the starting point via two routes: by ferry Lauvvik – Oanes or through the Ryfylke tunnels. Because the smaller sailings are not always guaranteed in winter, we opted for the tunnel. This tunnel is quite pricey though, as it is a relatively new road. Further, the parking lot at the starting point costs €25 (December 2022). Unfortunately, there really is no other option to park your car. At the parking lot there are some toilets and a building where equipment can be rented. In summer time this is probably a crowded area, but during our visit it was deserted.

The Hike to Preikestolen

Preikestolen is open to the public all year round, even in winter. In total, the route is about 8 kilometers (round trip) and it took us about 3 to 4 hours. This included a break at the finish and quite bad weather conditions: rain, snow and wind. Especially in winter it is important to take plenty of time for the hike. The weather can change suddenly and moreover, it starts to get dark around 3 p.m. already in January. During our visit, no one was allowed to start the walk after noon. The route itself was very clearly marked, even with 20cm of fresh snow we could still find the route easily!

Tip: Bring Your Own Crampons

In the winter months, crampons are probably necessary! Someone even came to ask us if we had them with us, as it was mandatory that day. The gear can be rented, however that is almost as expensive as buying them yourselves in advance. We did purchase a pair and used it for other hikes as well.