Europe’s giant 1982ft rock where tourists creep to the edge

A majestic 1,800 feet rock shelf, suspended over the fjord, and offers breathtaking views is a paradise for hikers and adventure enthusiasts. Preikestolen, known in English as “Pulpit Rock” is a cliff in southwestern Norway overlooking the Lysefjord.

It is one of Norway’s most famous mountain hikes and sees more than 300,000 visitors a year, according to the country’s official tourism website.

This steep cliff rises 604 meters (1,982 feet) above the Lysefjord, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the fjord below.

The nearly flat-topped cliff makes it a perfect spot for visitors to admire the dramatic scenery.

The hike to Preikestolen is about 4.9 miles (8 km) round trip and takes around four hours, offering a moderately challenging trek through varied landscapes of rocky paths, forests, and scenic viewpoints.

The cliff gained even more global recognition when it appeared in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” starring Tom Cruise.

The dramatic cliff served as the backdrop for a climactic scene, though it doubled as Kashmir in the film.

or the movie’s premiere, 2,000 fans hiked 4 kilometers to the cliff to watch the movie projected by lasers at night.

Cruise called the experience “the most impossible screening” ever, adding to the allure of Preikestolen for thrill-seekers and film enthusiasts alike.

However, the cliff has no safety barriers. In June this year, a man in his 40s died after falling from the cliff.

The hiking season lasts from May to October. Preikestolen may be reached year-round, but from November to April you’ll need special equipment and a guide. You can rent head torches, crampons, and book a guide in the area.

The hike to Preikestolen is a total of eight kilometres, and the roundtrip takes about four hours. The hike has an elevation gain of about 500 metres, and some sections are steep.

As the hike is graded as medium difficulty, you should have some trekking experience in rough terrain before embarking on this trip.

The popular tourist spot has some amazing reviews by the adventurers who managed to hike the cliff.

One user wrote on the TripAdvisor forum: “We were staying in Victoria Hotel, Stavanger. Booked on a Boreal bus, Pulpit Rock Tours, picking us up outside the Radisson Blu hotel.

“Bus on time, and a smooth ride (through a very long tunnel) to the base car park for the hike. It rained all the time but the route is very clearly marked and stone staircases and walkways/bridges are very well maintained.

“The route is very steep in places, and great views along the way. Once actually on the rock, the views are stunning. Quite a breathtaking experience. Took some stunning photographs.”

A second user wrote: “After 50 minutes of the bus from downtown Stavanger, a 1,5 to 2 hours hike to Prekeistolen is a very perfect activity to immerse in the Norwegian nature but when after 1,5 / 2 hours you rise up to the top the magnific view is something really fantastic.

“I went 25 years ago with beautiful sunshine weather, in 2019 I went back but it was pouring rain and at the top, you couldn’t see more than a hand’s breadth in front of your face. Augusto 2024, really very strong wind but perfect weather to admire the sky, mountain, and fjord.”