Preikestolen - Norway's Most Famous Hike

Preikestolen is a flat rock platform jutting 604 metres above Lysefjord. It measures roughly 25 by 25 metres and has become Norway's most popular hiking destination. Over 300,000 people climb up here each year. The name changed over time. Before 1900, locals called it Hyvlatonnå. Then the Stavanger tourist association started marketing it as Prekestolen. Only in the 1990s did they switch to the current spelling. Getting here is straightforward. You can drive through the new Ryfast tunnel from Stavanger or take the Preikestolen ferry. Follow route 523 until you see the big sign. There are two car parks - one by the basecamp and an upper one. Both routes take the same time to walk. Most people need 2 to 2.5 hours to reach the top. The path is extremely well marked and rebuilt with proper stairs. In 2013, Sherpas reconstructed the steepest section up Neverdalsskaret, making it much easier. The route crosses Krogabekkmyra swamp on elevated walkways, then climbs through the steepest bit. After that it's up and down for a kilometre past a small lake and refuge cabin. The final section hangs on the cliff face with stairs and bridges. Here's the thing - there are no railings at the edge. The Norwegian government deliberately keeps nature unfenced. Surprisingly, nobody has ever fallen off the cliff. You'll see people sitting with their legs dangling over the edge, though most keep their distance. You'll notice a huge crack running through the plateau. Eventually Preikestolen will tumble into the fjord, but not anytime soon.