Preikestolen is located in the southern part of the
Ryfylke district in
Rogaland county in
Western Norway. The city of
Stavanger, the fourth largest in Norway, with a number of direct flights to/from European cities, is located from the site. The parking facility for Preikestolen is located, thanks to the April 2020 opening of underwater tunnel Ryfylketunnelen, about 40 minutes from Stavanger by car. Access to Preikestolen from Stavanger is via the
Norwegian National Road 13 (Rv13). From the south, it is possible to drive to the Preikestolen parking facility via the ferry from Lauvvika to
Oanes. Ferries run year-round, but have limited hours, so plan ahead if opting for ferry over tunnel. The road to the site ends at a parking facility at the Preikestolen Fjellstue, just south of the town of
Jørpeland in
Strand Municipality. From the parking lot, there is a
trail to the site. A round-trip hike to Preikestolen from the closest car park takes about 3–4 hours for someone of average fitness. The walk to Preikestolen is very steep in places. The path starts at the Preikestolhytta, at an elevation of approximately
above sea level, and climbs to . The walk takes 2–3 hours depending on traffic along the trail, experience, and fitness level. Even though the elevation differential is only and the walk is not particularly long, about each way, the total elevation gain and loss over the course of the hike is more than one might initially expect, as the path climbs and descends various ridges. The walk is more difficult in winter and spring when there is snow and ice. Due to snow, it is not always possible to do the hike to the top in the winter. Alternative access is available via a path from Bratteli – a stop for the tourist ferry from to
Lysebotn that passes beneath the Pulpit Rock. This walk is more demanding, and takes 4–5 hours each way. An alternative is to sail through the
Lysefjorden, with trips running year-round. Outside of summer, the weather may be wet and cold, and clouds may obstruct views of the cliff. The ship stops at several small docks on the way in and out, including a layover at the end of the Lysefjorden at the village of
Lysebotn.
Improvement project In early April 2013, a project started to improve the path up to Preikestolen as the old one was so small that it often caused "delays", and at some points on the path it was sometimes impossible to get through. By 2016 the path was completed. In 2019 a new project started to further improve paths, build a new website, and improve the signs along the path.
Safety The authorities have opted not to install fencing or other safety devices as they felt it would detract from the site and the fact that fatalities at the site are extremely rare, despite having hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Furthermore, there were concerns that fences or other devices might encourage dangerous behavior such as climbing onto the fences.
Norwegian authorities have stated that "we cannot fence in all nature in this country". ==Nature==