SEPTEMBER 2025

Preikestolen is one of Norway’s most famous hikes and one that I was very keen on completing. It is the shortest famous hike, as Trolltunga and Kjeragbolten are much more strenuous. I therefore wondered whether it would be possible to hike to Preikestolen with a toddler. It is only recently that we stopped using the stroller and I didn’t know how long Hugo would hike. The Preikestolen hike is 4 kms one-way and has an elevation gain of about 500 meters. In this blogpost I will give my honest opinion about whether the hike is doable with kids/a toddler.

Practical information

We hiked Preikestolen after camping in Stavanger, it is about a 30 minute drive to the parking lot. It is possible to stay closer to Preikestolen at the Preikestolen Camping, but the campsite is still 4 kilometers from the base, so I didn’t see the added value of this. We arrived at the parking lot at 7.30 in the morning and it already started being busy. Once the first parking is full, you can park at the overflow parking. If you park at the overflow parking you have a slightly longer hike, but it also is less steep, so this should not be an issue. Parking costs 250 NOK and is paid once you leave the parking lot. Next to the parking lot you will find a restaurant, toilet building, tourist shops and an ice cream shop. 

What’s hiking Preikestolen with a toddler like? 

Preikestolen was our 4-year old’s first hike, so we didn’t know what to expect. The hike starts pretty steep, which led to some complaining, but it gets better after a while. The hike is well paved, with stairs built by Nepalese Sherpas. This makes the hike very accessible. The stairs are quite high for little kids, so this exhausted Hugo. We gave him real hiking shoes and this really helped with grip and had a positive placebo effect. We often bribed him with chocolate to continue hiking. On the way up he completed half the hike himself and he did three quarters on the way down. Hielke brought a carrier in which he carried him for the other parts. Having a toddler with you significantly slows down the pace. In the end we completed the hike in 4 hours and 15 minutes, including a little wait for pictures at the top. We visited in July and the path was continuously crowded, especially on our way down we sometimes had to wait for other people to pass. The Pulpit Rock itself is quite exposed, but if you have a kid that listens relatively well, it doesn’t have to be dangerous. We didn’t take any pictures with Hugo close to the ledge, but let him stay close to the mountainside.  It was not advised to fill up with water along the way, so I would recommend bringing enough water. You never know with the weather in Norway and we experienced sunshine, wind and a little bit of rain.

I think my pictures below capture how gorgeous the scenery is, how busy the trails can get and how the weather changes throughout the hike. If you prepare well I highly recommend doing the stunning hike with a toddler!