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Mission possible: how to hike pulpit rock like tom cruise onscreen.

Famed mountaintop site Pulpit Rock in Norway plays a starring role in Tom Cruise film 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout.'

By Laurie Brookins

Laurie Brookins

Freelance Contributor

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Critics have recommended seeing Mission: Impossible — Fallout on Imax screens with good reason: The Tom Cruise action film at times resembles a gorgeous travelogue, with postcard-perfect views of Paris, London and Kashmir — or so we’re led to think.

The climax of Ethan Hunt’s (Cruise) latest adventure takes place in a mountain range in Kashmir, a region that borders Pakistan, India and China, but that’s where script and reality deviate. While Kashmir’s geographic importance is integral to the storyline, director Christopher McQuarrie subbed in two visually stunning locations to create the heart-stopping chase scene late in the film: Cruise & Co. careen through the lush green mountains of New Zealand in specially outfitted helicopters until, via the magic of film editing, Cruise and co-star Henry Cavill are deposited atop Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, in southwestern Norway.

One of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions, Pulpit Rock takes its name from its stark shape, which resembles a pulpit when viewed from the waters of the Lysefjord below. Reaching a height of 1,982 feet, Pulpit Rock is topped by a plateau that measures roughly 82 by 82 feet, and it’s here — and just over the edge — that Cruise and Cavill battle while surrounded by some pretty spectacular scenery.

“That kind of exposure you can’t buy,” says Beate Gran, digital media manager and a U.S. spokesperson for Visit Norway, the country’s tourism board. The Mission: Impossible production closed down Pulpit Rock for filming “for a solid 10 to 14 days” last fall, Gran notes, so Visit Norway execs considered how to take advantage of the free publicity, and on Thursday released a short film that plays off Pulpit Rock’s use as the location while also highlighting Norway’s other areas and attributes.

If viewing Fallout causes your wanderlust to kick in, here’s everything you need to know to see Pulpit Rock in person.

It’s not impossible to get there : Flights into Stavanger, the Norwegian city closest to Pulpit Rock, are frequent, but this is a regional airport; from the U.S., you will need to fly through Oslo, London, Paris or Amsterdam, depending on your airline of choice. From Stavanger, you can take a bus or ferry or drive your own car to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, the starting point for hikes to Pulpit Rock. Cruise ships also dock in Stavanger, as it is considered a shortcut to the beauty of the Norwegian fjords, and most cruise lines offer half-day and day trips to Pulpit Rock as part of their itineraries.

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Avoid peak times : Pulpit Rock already was a popular destination before the Mission: Impossible franchise came along, and Gran says tourism experts are expecting crowds to surge. “We’ve also had an unusually warm summer, so more people are seeking outdoor adventures,” she says.

June, July and August are Pulpit Rock’s high-traffic months, though Gran says April, May and September also offer good weather with fewer visitors. Think about mid-week visits vs. weekends, when locals or tourists from neighboring countries tend to seek out the destination, and consider hours other than noon to early afternoon, when people love to each lunch on or around the plateau while enjoying the view. “You can do a sunrise hike if you’re OK with getting up early, and there are also hiking tours that include sunrise yoga off to the side of the plateau,” Gran points out. 

Because of southwest Norway’s close proximity to the Arctic Circle, the area stays light quite late during the summer, making early-evening hikes an option as well. On Wednesday evening, Paramount hosted a  Fallout  screening for 2,000 people near Pulpit Rock’s plateau, partly feasible because of the late hours available, Gran says. “The area doesn’t quite get the midnight summer sun that you will find in the northern part of Norway, but you can still sit outside and read a book until 11 or 11:30 at night,” she adds.

Plan a minimum of four hours : From Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, the 2.4-mile hike isn’t too strenuous, though you should be reasonably fit. “Unless you have any physical constraints, we always say anyone can do it,” Gran says. “We see multigenerational families all the time, grandparents going up with grandchildren.”

The hike should take approximately two hours going up and less time coming back down. Along the way, visitors will encounter some steep steps and craggy rocks that can be slippery in the rain, so Gran advises good-quality hiking shoes and dressing in layers for every weather possibility. “You’d be surprised how many people don’t think about how the climate will be different 2,000 feet up,” she says.

You don’t have to hike : Options are available if you’re afraid of heights or just not interested in the 2.4-mile climb. Two types of tour boats will take you through the Lysefjord below: a larger, more leisurely vessel or a smaller RIB, or rigid inflatable boat, that Gran says adds a bit of adventure to the experience. “[RIBs] go quite fast and can fit in the more narrow passageways along the mountains, and also brush up against the waterfalls,” she explains. “It can be quite thrilling.”

If you’re thinking about Mission: Impossible -level thrills, private helicopter charters are also available, though a little pricey, averaging $500 for one hour.

Don’t try to be an action star : Once you’ve reached Pulpit Rock’s plateau, enjoy your time, take your selfies and get as close to the edge as your nerves will allow, but erase all thoughts of being a daredevil from your mind. “There are no fences [on the plateau], and that’s part of the Norwegian lifestyle,” Gran says. “We love promoting Pulpit Rock as part of everything Norway has to offer, but no one should even think about doing what Tom Cruise did.”

'Mission: Impossible — Fallout': Film Review

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Where was Mission: Impossible Fallout filmed? Filming Locations Guide

Mission: Impossible Fallout Locations

Atlas of Wonders is looking for wonderful Filming Locations all around the world. We are constantly updating and improving our posts with new details and images. Follow us here:

This was great, thanks!

So many thanks!!

I'm desperatly trying to find out the street name where Ilsa is standing on the bridge with the sharpshooting rifle and then drives down the stairs on her motorcycle to follow Ethan on the street below. The same bridge and stairs are seen in a scene of "The Dreamers". Anyone knows that filming location? Based the scene just before that one it should be in the vicinity of the Trocadero. (I know films usually don't take geography very seriously, but in The Dreamers, the scene before the one at the bridge with the stairs was also at the Trocadero, making me think it might actually be nearby.

Hey Brandis, I hope you are happy, we found it for you following the lead of an 'église en restauration à Paris' (you can see it at the end of the scene). This way we came across the Saint-Augustin church and your bridge.

May I ask why it was so desperate?

Do you know where the underground scenes were filmed? The part where Alec Baldwin was killed.

A less obvious filming location is the underground spot where the team meets, the vaults of the Pennington Street Warehouse (St Katharine's & Wapping area). Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Paul the Archivist - Map

what about the place ... a tree line where ethan and ilsa meet???? ... Movie time 1:15:00

Ethan meets Ilsa later nearby in the Jardin du Palais Royal

Just watched Fallout for the first time last night, and wondered where the fantastic cliffs were (if real at all!) - thanks so much for the info, and the pics. Great site, very useful, so thanks a lot from the UK.

I love every place

The cliffs are real for sure: Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Lysefjorden, Norway. It's a well-known tourist attraction that you can visit (for free, of course, this is Scandinavia). But, please don't try to do Cruise's stunt if you go there, even though the place in itself is worth the journey. Climbing this cliff most certainly is a "don't attempt to do this at home" situation. The fall, in reality, is much deeper than it seems in the movie and the bottom is as hard as the rest of the rock. Still, you should go there and you will never forget - and I'm neither a local nor a Norwegian.

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Thousands of ‘Mission: Impossible’ Fans Hiked Four Miles to Watch ‘Fallout’ on Top of Norway’s 2,000 Ft. Pulpit Rock

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[Editor’s note: The following post contains spoilers for “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.”]

The final insane stunt in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” finds Tom Cruise dangling from the side of Norway’s iconic Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock. The cliff is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, so naturally Cruise and “Fallout” director Christopher McQuarrie turned it into the film’s last thrilling locale. In a brilliant marketing move, Paramount decided to honor the location by throwing a Norway screening of “Fallout” 2,000 feet in the air atop Pulpit Rock.

Cruise marked the screening with a jaw-dropping photo of the event posted on his Twitter page. Cruise accompanied the post with the caption: “2,000 feet, 2,000 people, 4 hours of hiking. The most impossible screening of ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout.’ Thank you all for coming! I wish I could have been there.”

“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” has earned the best reviews of the franchise, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich praising the film as one of the best action movies of the decade. The film broke franchise records (unadjusted for inflation) when it opened to $61.5 million.

Check out Cruise’s post below. We’d like to think this Pulpit Rock “Fallout” screening is how Ethan Hunt watches all of his movies.

2,000 feet, 2,000 people, 4 hours of hiking. The most impossible screening of #MissionImpossible Fallout. Thank you all for coming! I wish I could have been there. pic.twitter.com/ufi1FkP6KI — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 2, 2018

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Thousands Climb Massive Cliff in Norway to Watch Mission: Impossible

How long would you hike to see a special viewing of your favorite movie at the edge of a cliff? For 2,000 people in Norway, when Tom Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible installment “Fallout” hit theaters worldwide, the answer was: “eight hours back and forth”.

Why pulpit rock.

Pulpit Rock, also called Preikestolen, is a mountain plateau that towers 604 meters above Lysefjord in Western Norway’s Rogaland county. It offers stunning views of the fjord and the surrounding area, but to get there you need to hike for four hours (and four to get back). Of course, a little bit of hiking never deterred the Norwegians, who are known for their love of exploring the great outdoors. And Pulpit Rock is one of Norway’s most famous attractions.

This is where Tom Cruise comes in. Last autumn, when Mission: Impossible – Fallout was still filming, the crew spent nine days filming at Pulpit Rock. The Norwegian tourist attraction features very prominently on the film, with a major action scene where agent Ethan Hunt, portrayed as always by Cruise, ends up hanging from the Pulpit Rock. The actor even used that image in one of his tweets when the movie trailer was about to premiere. As a result, many international viewers had the chance to admire the impressive cliff and a lot of interest around the location was created. And so a team of local enthusiasts worked for several months to make the impossible (pun intended) happen and organize a special screening of the film.

The special screening of ‘Fallout’ was a unique way to not only experience a movie in an open-air cinema with a breathtaking view but also to be at the very same spot part of the movie took place . The screening, presented by the Forsand municipality, was no small feat. Two thousand determined Mission: Impossible fans hiked for four hours to reach an elevation of 2,000 feet and sit down on the rock to enjoy the movie. Paramount Pictures called it “an extra special screening” and Cruise himself said wished he “ could have been there “. Although it would certainly be remarkable for agent Ethan Hunt to have appeared in the flesh, the people who attended the screening probably already had enough excitement, whether they looked at the screen or all around them.

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Lysefjord Cruise & Hike to Pulpit Rock

Are you ready to hike up to one of the world's most spectacular viewpoints? The Pulpit Rock is a dramatic mountain plateau 604 meters above the Lysefjord. We take you on a fjord cruise on the Lysefjord and further by bus to the starting point of the hike!

The Lysefjord was formed by powerful glaciers during the ice age. Here, the mountain peaks extend high above the fjord on both sides and provide fantastics views during the fjord cruise. The Pulpit Rock is one of the most famous nature attractions in Norway and standing on top of the Pulpit Rock and enjoying the wonderful view and the dizzying height is truly a unique experience!

Tour description

This tour starts from Stavanger on a quiet fjord cruise with a new electric boat that sails silently in the beautiful fjord landscape on the Lysefjord. You get to see the Pulpit Rock from the fjord where Tom Cruise climbed the steep mountain wall in the film Mission Impossible 6. Afterwards, the cruise continues to the mighty Hengjanefoss waterfall. After an exciting fjord cruise, you get off in Forsand, where a bus will bring you to the Preikestolen Cabin where the hike starts from.

The hike takes approx. 2 hours each way and is a wonderful experience! The trip to Pulpit Rock has a moderate degree of difficulty. The trail goes over bogs, forests, and stone stairs built by Sherpas from Nepal to protect the terrain and facilitate the trip. The path is well marked along the entire road towards Pulpit Rock. The actual walk takes between 3 and 4 hours. You return to Stavanger by bus through the world's longest underwater tunnel.

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You can combine this great trip with a night in Stavanger at one of our hotels and join in on an exciting activity the next day. You can easily add this short holiday in Stavanger to your booking with us.

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Mission: Impossible Fallout Screened On A Cliff And It Was Madness

The following contains minor spoilers for Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

Mission: impossible - Fallout had an impressive opening weekend and is poised for another strong showing this weekend. However, no sold out showing holds a candle to one particular screening. Tom Cruise recently shared an image of a Fallout screening that took place at the top of the same cliff where the film's finale action sequence ended, and it was insane.

Tom Cruise calls it the most impossible screening of Mission: Impossible - Fallout and I'm inclined to agree. To be willing to hike for four hours to get to a movie screening you've really got to want it. It's one thing if a small handful of people decided it was worthwhile to do that. However, 2,000 people apparently decided they wanted to attend this event. That's a lot of people to make the hike together. At least everybody had plenty of people to talk to while they passed the time on the way up.

The fact that this picture has to be taken from such a high vantage point in order to get everybody in the frame says so much. There's actually a lot of people down there, it seems like far more than will ever actually be able to watch the movie comfortably. Hopefully, some people just enjoyed being on site since they'll probably need to buy a ticket at a regular theater if they actually want to be able to watch and adequately follow the movie.

The final action sequence in the new Mission: Impossible film begins with Tom Cruise on board a helicopter , but it ends atop a cliff after the chopper has crashed. While the sequence in Mission: Impossible - Fallout is supposed to take place in Kashmir, the location is actually Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, in Norway . The film just opened at the box office in the Scandinavian nation, making this the perfect time for a special screening on location.

Of course, considering all the practical stunt work that is done in Mission: Impossible - Fallout, watching the movie from the top of a cliff really feels almost required. It seems like if you're not risking bodily injury or death as much as the people who made the film, you're doing something wrong. There do appear to be some people standing, or possibly sitting, right on the edge of the cliff who would seem to agree.

This was certainly a once in a lifetime experience so it's not all that shocking that so many people took advantage of it. Hopefully they enjoyed the film, and hopefully, the four-hour hike back down the mountain was well lit or the trip home may have been an even bigger stunt than the trip up.

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Fans watched 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout' at the top of a 2,000-foot cliff where one of the movie's biggest action scenes takes place

• 2,000 fans climbed Pulpit Rock in Norway, a 2,000-foot cliff, for an outdoor viewing of "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" Wednesday night.
• The cliff is the site of one of the movie's biggest action scenes, though it doubles for a cliff in Kashmir, India in the movie.

"Mission: Impossible" fans aren't afraid to carry out near-impossible missions of their own. 

Paramount Pictures said 2,000 fans climbed to the top of Norway's 2,000-foot cliff,  Pulpit Rock, for an outdoor viewing of "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" on Wednesday at 11 p.m.

Franchise star Tom Cruise, who was not in attendance, tweeted about the event on Thursday, and said " 2,000 feet, 2,000 people, 4 hours of hiking. The most impossible screening of # MissionImpossible Fallout. Thank you all for coming! I wish I could have been there."

—Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 2, 2018

The movie was followed by a 2-hour return hike back down the mountain early Thursday morning using flashlights and headlamps.

Paramount said the purpose of the event " was to promote tourism in the region following the filming of Mission: Impossible Fallout in that location."

The "Mission: Impossible" series is known for its death-defying stunts, and Cruise is known for executing them on his own without a stunt person, including a skydive at 25,000 feet  with a broken ankle in the latest movie.

"Fallout" also features a thrilling climax set at Pulpit Rock, although it doubled for a cliff in Kashmir, India in the film.  

Below are photos from the screening:

Watch: How they filmed Tom Cruise jumping out of a plane in "Mission: Impossible—Fallout"

• Main content

Hiking to Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock, or Preikestolen to use its official name, is one of Norway’s best-known natural attractions.

Even if you don’t know the name, you may recognise the rock, as it’s been photographed countless times, with people perched near the edge proudly raising their arms at having reached the plateau.

You may also recall Tom Cruise climbing the cliff face in the final fight scene of Mission Impossible: Fallout . But you don’t have to be a Hollywood star to visit!

Where is Pulpit Rock?

Located in western Norway in the county of Rogaland, Pulpit Rock rises 604m above sea level, its iconic flat outcrop towering over the fjord and interlocking valleys below.

It’s open for hikers from May to October each year. And in 2018, Pulpit Rock drew close to 300,000 visitors. Make no mistake – this is a seriously popular attraction!

Trekking up to the top demands a reasonable level of fitness. It’s a moderate trek with breathtaking views, and it’s a great introduction to hiking in Norway.

The trek begins easily enough, and the route is marked. It takes about four hours to do the whole trek to the top, including the return leg.

The route to Pulpit Rock

To reach the summit, you’ll hike upwards for about two hours, along largely rocky terrain. The most challenging part of the climb lies between the 1.5km to 2km mark, as you ascend a series of steep rock steps.

Other than that, the rocky route undulates relatively gently upwards for most of the 3.8km-long trail, with the landscapes changing as you make you way up to the summit.

The route starts Preikestolen Mountain Lodge ‘s car park. Expect zen-like forests in the early part – you’ll know you’re around halfway up when you see shallow ponds with ducks paddling in them.

As you near the top, you’ll reach granite cliffs that overlook passing cruise ships in the fjord below.

Climbing Pulpit Rock: what you need to know

Although this is a ‘touristy’ hike, it’s important to come prepared. The weather can change quickly during your climb, from clear sunny skies to rain and fog, and when that happens, the rocks get slippery.

This means wearing proper footwear designed for hiking, having warm clothing handy and using hiking sticks if possible.

Exercising caution and common sense is important too  – and yes, this applies to your victory pose as well! Some 74 rescue operations were carried out in the first half of 2019 alone, 25% more than the total number in 2018!

Pulpit Rock is a tourist favourite, especially during the June to August peak, so things can get very busy. Narrow parts of the route can get clogged with hikers as a result, but practise the spirit of giving way and you’ll be fine.

Civic courtesy applies at the summit as well – everyone wants a shot of themselves near the edge, and a queue will form organically. Be nice and don’t jump the queue!

Getting to Pulpit Rock

The city of Stavanger in western Norway is the easiest and most usual starting point for hikers to Pulpit Rock, with the walk itself beginning at the car park of the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge , where you can also spend the night.

By ferry and bus

To get to the start of the hike, take the public Norled ferry from Fiskepiren in Stavanger to Tau, and from there, catch the bus up to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge. The entire journey takes about an hour one-way.

One-way ferry and bus tickets cost 62 NOK and 135 NOK respectively. Ferries depart every 40 minutes, and bus schedules are timed to meet the ferry arrivals.  

By cruise boat

For a more scenic route, book a spot on a Preikestolen cruise and hike with Rodne Fjord Cruise . Instead of heading north on the public ferry to Tau, this trip departs from Strandkaien ferry terminal in Stavanger and heads eastwards.

The cruise takes you through the scenic Lysefjord , meandering up close to Vagabond’s Cave, named after a group of vagabonds who hid from police for months in a cave surrounded by dramatic cliffs.

The boat also stops beneath Pulpit Rock, so you can look up and see the craggy plateau majestically hanging overhead before you climb it.

If you’re still keen on the climb after seeing that view, get off the boat at Forsand, where a bus will take you to the start of the hike, then pick you up from the drop-off point for your return journey back via Tau on the public ferry.

The tour departs once a day at 10am, and takes about 8 hours for the entire trip, including the hike. Adult tickets cost around 470 NOK each. The price of the return ferry trip from Tau (around 62 NOK) is extra, and can be purchased onboard.

Alternatively, you can book this super-simple cruise and hike , with a professional guide accompanying you on the trek and all transport, including pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Stavanger.

On a guided tour

There are a range of other guided tours available to make hiking the rock easier. One of the best, if you want to avoid the crowds en route, is the Sunrise Hike .

Okay, it’s an early start – 5am pick-up! – but your reward will be watching the sun rise at the summit and the sense of satisfaction as you arrive back down in time for breakfast just as the crowds are setting off up the path.

What to do near Pulpit Rock

Unless you’re driving past and staying near the start of the trail, chance are you’ll be setting off from Stavanger, Norway’s fourth most populous city.

Stavanger is a great place to base yourself for a few days, with plenty to see and do, including one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved medieval cathedrals.

Gamle Stavanger, or Old Stavangar, is also worth exploring with its cobblestone paths, 18 th -century wooden cottages, galleries and handicraft shops.

And the city also boasts some interesting and quirky museums, such as the Norwegian Canning Museum , the open-air Museum of Archaeology , with Viking Age artefacts and an Iron Age Farm, and the Nordic Petroleum Museum .

Recommended tour: See Stavanger with a local

Eating and drinking

Fisketorget is the place to head for fresh seafood (reservations recommended, especially in summer), while the Cardinal pub is a Stavanger institution. Listed in the New York Times’ ’52 places to go in 2019′, it has 600 beers (on tap and bottle) to choose from.

Alternatively, Villa22 Trattoria & Bar is a crowd-pleasing favourite located on the harbour, serving traditional Italian dishes and coffee alongside a wide selection of cocktails.

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Gothenburg archipelago: 7 of the best islands to visit

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Preikestolen Hike in Norway: Surviving the Trail to Priest Rock Cliff

More than 270 thousand people do the Preikestolen hike every year, eager to reach one of the most famous cliffs in Norway , also known as Priest Rock or Pulpit Rock . The experience is terrific and terrifying at the same time.

If you finish the Preikestolen hike without vertigo, congratulations!

Preikestolen reached the stardom even before Travis Fimmel sat on it in “Vikings” , and even more before Tom Cruise hanged from it in “Mission Impossible: Fallout” . On a side note, the latter one pretends that the Pulpit Rock cliff is actually not in Norway, but in Kashmir , India ! That did not slow down the constant rise of touristic interest in this unique Norwegian lookout.

Follow this guide, and learn how to experience Preikestolen hike in the most enjoyable way, but also safely, without accidents or, worse, becoming a part of Preikestolen deaths statistics.

If you manage to finish the Priest Rock trail without vertigo, Norway will congratulate you! You’ll become a part of the fearless hiking family that is consistently defending Preikestolen’s reputation as one of the best hikes in Norway .

Preikestolen history

The famous hanging rock of Preikestolen was formed in the ice age, 10.000 years ago, during the melting of the Lysefjord glacier.

The water that froze in the mountain crevices broke off large blocks that the glacier carried away. Pulpit Rock resisted and stayed on the top as if somebody would have carved it out with a knife.

The mountain plateau gained its touristic boost at the beginning of the 20 th century.

Preikestolen star history starts with the gymnast Thomas Peter Randulff who conquered it first, after seeing it from the steamboat.

The captain of the boat was the one who pointed at the big rock above the fjord, saying that it resembled a preacher’s pulpit ( preikestolen ). This is how the rock formation previously known as Hyvlatonnå (planed tooth) got its modern name.

Priest Rock lookout as a test of bravery and intelligence

This flat mountain plateau protrudes roughly 30 meters from the mountainside, which efficiently produces gooseflesh in an average visitor.

Yet the call of the selfie at the edge of the cliff is irresistible for the most.

One doesn’t need to be a priest to peep out from the Pulpit Rock lookout . Many visitors lie down on their bellies while peeking over the edge into the abyss. The braver ones sit on it with their legs freely hanging, while some parents with a dubious sense of responsibility let their baby crawl on the mountain ledge so they can snap that perfect photo .

The visitors open to extreme sports in the challenging setting engage in doing one-armed handstands , BASE jumping , slackline walking , trampoline jumping , or even something as stupid as free-hanging from the cliff.

Preikestolen hike trail – ups and downs

Even if the square-shaped rock high above the fjord is the primary goal for most of the hikers, the scenery along the path to Preikestolen is equally breathtaking. Lush pine forests, boardwalks and bridges, lakes, and cascades. It all adds to the beauty of the hiking experience.

Preikestolen hiking trail is well signposted by the Trekking Association ’s red-painted T-markers. There are also signs showing the distance to the top and back to the Preikestolen parking, where the hike starts. With so many people going, one could hardly get lost anyway; just follow the crowds!

Parts of the path are granite stairs that were laid down by Sherpas from Nepal. This made hiking to Preikestolen easier than it was before.

It is still a physically demanding adventure for most people.

Preikestolen hike with baby falls under this category. Even if I have seen hikers with small dogs and parents with small children, I would advise you to bring the weaker ones on the Preikestolen hike only if you are prepared for a lot of stops and extra weight on your shoulders when kids decide to give up walking.

Preikestolen deaths

With the long history of touristic exploitation, it is unusual that there have not been many Preikestolen deaths and accidents .

In 2013, Diego Garcia Calleja (26) seemed to be the first tourist to die from the accidental fall from the Pulpit Rock. His travel companions reported that before heading down from the mountain, the Spanish hiker returned to take a few more photographs, and then they heard the scream. Only after his death, an automated farewell message appeared on his Facebook wall, revealing that he wanted to end his life in a “nice place”.

An Austrian woman and a Norwegian man made the same choice earlier; in 2000, they formed the suicide pact on the internet and jumped together off the Pulpit Rock to their deaths.

Whether with an intention or by accident, modern tourists approach the Pulpit Rock edge quite carelessly. The authorities were considering fencing the rock, but the idea quickly fell through the cracks.

The fence would definitely affect the aesthetics of the site. There was also an understandable fear that the fence would motivate even riskier behavior of the adventurous tourists.

Maybe it is more beneficial to teach that Norwegian nature is dangerous, and we should approach it with respect.

Don’t play James Bond , and you should be fine, just like the other 270.000 careful visitors every year! Well, except those that make Norwegian People’s Aid arrive in helicopters to perform several dozens of rescue operations per year due to hiking injuries at Preikestolen.

Will Preikestolen fall?

Yes, it definitely will. The future when this will happen is however not foreseeable.

Pulpit Rock crack is several meters deep, and in 2017 the measurements concluded that the gap has widened by 2-3 millimeters. As The Local reported, geologists will continue monitoring the site.

The legend says that Preikestolen will tear itself off the mountain when seven sisters marry seven brothers from the Lysefjord area. The fall of the plateau into the fjord will create a tsunami that will kill everyone in the area.

A similar scenario already happened in Norway in 1934, when the wave resulting from the mountain rockfall in Tafjord killed more than 40 people.

As “The Wave” , Norway’s disaster movie from 2015 shows, we should never underestimate the unpredictability of nature.

Preikestolen hike – when to go?

Preikestolen hiking season is open from April till October.

Beware, June, July and August are the busiest periods, so aim for the shoulder season to enjoy the place with lesser crowds.

The best time to visit Preikestolen would probably be May and September, as a good compromise between the weather conditions and site popularity.

Preikestolen winter hike is possible, but only with an organized guided tour. Early spring and late autumn hikes might make the paths more slippery due to the rains.

Shoot for the weekday if you can, this will also reduce stumbling on people on the Priest Rock trail.

Preikestolen – where to stay?

The nearest airport to Preikestolen is the one in Stavanger . I decided to stay in this town as it has a charm of its own, but is also quite well connected with Pulpit Rock.

I booked a room through Airbnb , just 300 meters away from the Fiskepiren ferry terminal. This convenient option cost me 37 Euros per night.

If you want to stay closer to Priest Rock, the obvious choice is Preikestolen Mountain Lodge (Preikestolen Fjellstue). The daily price is between 380 and 1275 Norwegian Krowns (40-132 Euros), depending on whether you stay in a dormitory or a single room with a private bathroom. Check out the photographs and prices here !

Then there is the closest place to Preikestolen, and that is the self-organized camping near the rock itself. Thanks to the liberal Norwegian laws about camping in nature, this option is – free! It will also enable a less stressful hiking experience, as well as the possibility of enjoying the Pulpit Rock site during sunset or sunrise without the tourist jam.

Still wondering where to stay close to Preikestolen? Check out these hot deals! Various dates available!

How to get to Preikestolen?

Getting from Stavanger to Preikestolen is very easy. One needs to take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau , and then the bus from Tau to Pulpit Rock parking, the starting point of the hike. The hiking route from Preikestolen Mountain Lodge is clearly marked.

Tide offers the combined ferry and bus ticket for 340 NOK (36 euros). Pulpit Rock Tours offers a bus ride for 210 NOK (22 euros), while the ferry ticket should be bought on board (120 NOK or 13 euros round tour).

If you are coming by car, the parking fee at Preikestolen parking costs 200 NOK (21 euro).

For a complete peace of mind, join a safe guided hike with a pick-up in Stavanger for 1,190 NOK (104 euros).

Preikestolen hike facts

• Preikestolen height: 604 meters
• Hike elevation: 334 meters
• Trail length (one way): 3,8 kilometers
• Preikestolen hike time (one way): 2 hours
• Difficulty: medium
• Preikestolen weather: Check yr.no , the highly reliable Norwegian weather forecasting site
• Fun fact: In 2016, Eirik Ulltang did Preikestolen hike on a bicycle – it took him 2 hours only as if he would’ve been an average walking hiker!

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Awesome article! Your attention to detail is amazing and I love the history behind Preikestolen as well! I will certainly be using this when I travel to Norway. Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks, Keri! Stay tuned – more amazing Norwegian adventures coming to the site soon!

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Lysefjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike (& How to Do It in One Day)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 15, 2024

Visiting Stavanger in Norway and wondering how to do a Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in one day? This article is for you!

Most people come to Stavanger for two reasons – to see the famous Lysefjord and to do one of the most iconic hikes of Norway – Preikestolen , or the Pulpit Rock .

When I first started planning our 2-week Norway trip , however, I thought that you need two days in order to do both – the Lysefjord cruise and the Pulpit Rock hike .

Every guidebook, every website seemed to suggest that Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock require two separate trips on two separate days. Luckily, we found a combination tour of the Lysefjord Cruise and Pulpit Rock hike that allowed us to do both in one day.

TIP: If you have no time to read about our experience, you can find more information and book this day trip on Viator or directly with Rodne Fjord Cruise .

If you have more time in Stavanger, you can, of course, make these two trips separately. However, there is so much more to see and do in this beautiful region.

If you can save some time (and money) by combining these two trips in one day, it leaves you more time to explore the amazing museums in Stavanger ( the Norwegian Canning Museum is a must!) or do some more hiking in the area (we highly recommend Florli 4444 ).

Stavanger is a perfect base for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, so if you love nature, plan at least 3-4 nights in town. Here you can find some more ideas for the best things to do in Stavanger .

Lysefjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike

Traveling around the Stavanger region might seem a bit overwhelming at first. But you don’t have to worry about any practicalities if you book this combination trip (Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike), because everything is extremely well organized and explained.

Below you can read about our experience with doing the Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in one day, as a day trip from Stavanger. Find out!

Lysefjord Cruise

At 10 AM we took a boat from Skagenkaien – it’s located at the main harbor in Stavanger city center. We spent a bit more than two hours on the water sailing deep into the Lysefjord, passing some beautiful islands and idyllically located colorful houses that are so typical for Norway.

The boat is big and comfortable, it has all the facilities and a beautiful indoor setting area with huge windows on all sides, or you can choose to stand on one of the decks outside.

On the morning we visited, we had the worst weather: it was cold, it was raining, and the wind was literally blowing you off the deck, so it was difficult to stay outside all the time.

Luckily, the fjord was incredibly beautiful even in the rain. We spent as much time as we could outside. And yes, we needed really warm and waterproof clothing to actually be able to enjoy it.

What makes this Lysefjord cruise trip great is that the boat slows down at the most beautiful places and gives you lots of explanation about everything you see along the way. The commentary is available in several languages.

There were lots of people on board on the day of our visit, but it never felt crowded.

Transfer to the Pulpit Rock Trailhead

After a 2-hr Lysefjord cruise, around noon, our boat made a short stop in the tiny harbor of Oanes to drop off the passengers with the combination ticket for the hike.

Only a handful of people left the boat together with us. There was a bus waiting for us at the harbor, and 20 minutes later we were at the Pulpit Rock trailhead.

Good to know: Please note that at the moment, the boat stops at Forsand and not in Oanes as it did in the past. But the rest is the same – you take the bus from there to the Pulpit Rock trailhead. The company has a bus waiting for you when the boat arrives – it’s all very well organized.

As I said, it was raining in the morning, but the weather forecast for Preikestolen showed dry weather in the afternoon. So instead of continuing straight to the Pulpit Rock, we decided to have a relaxing lunch first and wait for the rain to stop. And it did!

There is a lodge with a restaurant at the Pulpit Rock trailhead. You can get a snack or a warm meal here, use a bathroom, refill your water bottles, or just warm up on a rainy day.

Note that food is very expensive here. So if you want to save time and money, you better pack a picnic and some snacks. The prices in Norway are very high, especially in the rural areas.

Pulpit Rock Hike

The hike to Pulpit Rock is about 4km and 2 hours each way (so 8km, 3-4 hours in total) . Some experienced hikers will say it’s an easy hike, but for us regular folks it definitely isn’t.

It’s a moderate hike with several steep climbs along the way, and you definitely need proper hiking shoes for Preikestolen. In dry weather, you might be ok in sneakers, but when it’s wet (and it usually is), you will need sturdy walking shoes with a good grip. The reviews from other travelers show that most people underestimate this hike.

The Pulpit Rock hike is not just about the Preikestolen itself. The scenery along the way is beautiful. And once you get to the top you will be rewarded by the most spectacular view over Lysefjord! We were extremely lucky that it stopped raining and there was no mist, so we could enjoy the view to the fullest.

After a bit less than 2 hours we reached the Pulpit Rock. It was just as spectacular as I had imagined!

Also, it was a bit intimidating! The sheer drop of this 604-meter rock is dizzying to say the least. You better don’t look straight down when you stand on the edge. And please don’t do any stupid things and stay safe!

The hike back down took us about 1h30.

You can find more detailed information about this hike in our guide via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Pulpit Rock Hike

Bus from Pulpit Rock to Stavanger

When we visited, the trip back to Stavanger involved a bus followed by a ferry. However, after the opening of the new sub-sea tunnel, the trip back to Stavanger can now be done with a direct bus.

When we traveled, the ticket price for the bus was included in the Rodne Pulpit Rock cruise & hike combination ticket. From what I see, it’s the case now as well.

The bus picks you up after the hike, at around 6 PM, and you’re back in Stavanger at around 7 PM. That’s at least an hour faster than the bus + ferry combo in the past.

Practical Information for Lysefjord Cruise and Pulpit Rock Hike

• There are daily departures with Rodne boats from Stavanger, from May till September, at 10 AM. In July and August, they sometimes offer additional trips as well.
• Plan the whole day for the Lysefjord cruise and the Preikestolen hike. In summer (May – September), you’ll leave Stavanger at around 10 AM and be back at around 7 PM. In winter, you should do the hike with a guide!
• Lysefjord cruise can be done by anyone, but the Pulpit Rock hike requires good physical condition. That being said, our kids of 6-8 years old could easily do the hike.
• Dress in layers and carry a rain jacket. Wear good hiking shoes. Pack a picnic and carry plenty of drinking water. You can refill your bottles at Preikestolen Base Camp.
• For more practical information about the exact trip, please check the Rodne Fjord Cruise website .

More tips for your trip to Norway:

• Best Things to Do in Stavanger
• Pulpit Rock Hike and Florli 4444
• Where to Stay in Stavanger
• Norway Itinerary (2 weeks in the southwest)
• Northern Noway Itinerary (2 weeks in Lofoten – Vesteralen – Senja – Tromso)
• What to Wear in Norway in Summer 
• What to Wear in Norway in Winter
• Budget: How Expensive is Norway
• More destinations:  For more travel tips and other popular destinations, please check our  Norway travel guide .

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Monday 12th of September 2022

Hi, we are going to Stavenger October 13. Can we still hiking to pulpit rock. the tour "pulpit rock and hike in style" date stop on September 30th. Rodne fjord cruise still available in October

@Jurga, Thank you. I think it is make senses that the day become shorter and we cannot do 2 in 1 anymore.

Hi Andreas, from what I see, the cruise & hike combo is indeed only available until September. So you'd have to do the two separately. I guess it could be due to the fact that the days are much shorter, so maybe there's not enough daylight for both on the same day. I'm not sure though. It's possible that there is simply less demand and it makes no sense for them to have the bus running.

chaitra harsha

Thursday 8th of September 2022

hi, this is amazing. can the cruise be booked one way so that i do pulpit rock hike and head back on my own?

Hi, unless you book some guided tour and simply go with a cruise+ hike option, the hike is always unguided. So you hike on your own. First, you do the cruise. Then they drop you off at the bus that takes you to the trailhead, and from there on, you are alone. I think that nowadays they have a bus to take you back to Stavanger, but I'm not sure if it's just one bus at a specific time (I doubt it), or they have a few buses that you can take depending on when you get back down from the mountain (I think it's the case indeed). In any case, if you stay much longer or decide to camp or whatever, nobody will be expecting you back. So you'll have to get back to Stavanger on your own (be sure to research how you'll do it and how late buses run).

Saturday 16th of July 2022

This is just what I was looking for, thanks so much.

Tuesday 19th of July 2022

Glad to help. Have a great time in Stavanger!

Friday 3rd of June 2022

Your website has been so helpful in planning our trip! Do you think the cruise is worth the money if we are already going to see Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord? Thanks!

Saturday 4th of June 2022

Hi Rosemary, we did all three of these fjords and enjoyed them all. While each is somewhat different, of course, it's also a rather similar experience. So you don't absolutely have to see each of them. We did the Lysefjord cruise in combination with the Pulpit Rock hike and then the other day - on our way to Florli4444 hike. So for us, it was just part of the day that included other great attractions/ hikes as well. In both cases, we found it totally worth it. If you are only in Stavanger for one day, you can easily fill the day just visiting the city (but visiting all the museums, etc. won't be cheap either - but really interesting too) - see our guide to the best things to do in Stavanger. But if you have more than a day in the city and the weather is nice, I'd definitely do it (potentially in combination with one of the hikes, as we did). Have a great trip!

Jennifer Frankenhoff

Wednesday 4th of May 2022

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences, I’ve enjoyed following along! I’m heading to Stavanger next week and would love to fit in both the Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in the same day also. I can’t seem to locate the combination tour, did you book the morning hike to the Pulpit Rock and then the cruise separately? I’m wondering if I’ll have enough time to do the 5am hike and be back to make the 10am cruise? Thank you again for your recommendations!!

Thank you soooo much for the quick responses and additional information!! I’m really looking forward to the trip and wish I had more time to explore. Many thanks, again!

Hi Jennifer, all the info is in our article, but indeed some tours are now unavailable so I updated those links. Anyway, I was able to find this tour on Viator that is exactly what we did - the cruise and then hike (on our own). Or you can also book it on Rodne website as explained in the article. You don't have to return to the city. After visiting the fjord, the cruise drops you off where there's a bus waiting to bring you to Preikestolen. After the hike, you have to return to the city on your own, which is really easy to do too. If you absolutely want to have a guide for your hike, then you'll have to do these two trips separately (see tours here), but if you don't mind hiking on your own, these are really the best options. And no, even if you take a 5am trip, you won't be back in the city at 10am. Most Preikestolen hike tours from Stavanger and back take about 9 hours. Have a wonderful trip!

FULL Pulpit Rock Hike Guide! By Cruise, Car & Bus, Plus Tips!

Categories Europe , Norway

The Pulpit Rock Hike is easily the top thing to do when in Stavanger, Norway! In fact, the Preikestolen hike (as Pulpit Rock is also known), is one of the very top things to to in Norway! This is because although Pulpit Rock looks extremely remote high above the fjord of Lysefjord, getting to Pulpit Rock isn’t actually that hard, and, it’s a beautiful 4km hike to get to the top!

In this guide to hiking Pulpit Rock, I’m going to tell you how to get to Pulpit Rock from Stavanger. The Pulpit Rock hike time, my Pulpit Rock tips (because we missed allll the crowds at the top!), how safe Pulpit Rock is and we’ll weigh up whether you should get a cruise to Pulpit Rock, a bus, or hire a car which is what I did with my husband.

So let’s get into it as you seriously do not want to miss this hike when in Norway and definitely not when you are looking for things to do in Stavanger Norway .

Find What You're Looking For Easily Here!

Pulpit Rock Hike

Is it Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock?

When researching this trip to Norway I found it was hard getting to know all of these new and unfamiliar names like Lysefjord, Kjerag and Preikestolen which are all names that come up a lot when researching Stavanger . Especially when some places actually just have 2 names, they are not 2 different places.

This is the case with Pulpit Rock and Preikestolen. Preikestolen is the Norwegian name for the rock and Pulpit Rock is the English name . I’ll be using the name interchangeably in this post but please know, it is the same place !

When you get to Norway, although everyone will know what you mean by Pulpit Rock and guides and locals will use the name, when it comes to road signs and signs at the starting point, you’ll see the word Preikestolen, not Pulpit Rock so it’s good to be aware of this. And, it will all make sense once you get there!

Where is Pulpit Rock?

Pulpit Rock is closest to the city of Stavanger and it is located along one of the most breathtaking and most amazing fjords in Norway – Lysefjord.

Here is a Pulpit Rock Map to show you where Stavanger is, where Pulpit Rock / Preikestolen is and where the starting point of the hike to Pulpit Rock is.

Visiting more places in Norway? Check out my other Norway blog posts:

• 20 BEST Things To Do in Stavanger & Near Stavanger! Hikes, Cruises, Museums!
• Easy Hike to Stegastein Viewpoint in 3-4 Hours! Most Scenic Platform in Norway!
• 3- 5 Day Norway Road Trip Itinerary! Bergen to Alesund & Atlantic Ocean Road
• 18 Places To Stop On A Bergen to Alesund Road Trip
• Is the Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway Worth the Visit?

How to Get to Pulpit Rock?

One very important thing to note right now is that although you can take various transport methods ‘to Pulpit Rock’ as I explain below, no matter what transport you use, you HAVE TO HIKE THE SAME HIKE to the top! And yes, to get to the top of Pulpit Rock, you HAVE to hike!

There is just one way to the very top of Pulpit Rock and that is roughly a 1.5 – 2 hour hike each way . I go into more detail below on the Pulpit Rock hike time and how hard the Pulpit Rock hike is below.

– Pulpit Rock Guided Tour

If you’re travelling to Stavanger alone, on a tight frame because you’re on a cruise stopping at Stavanger, or need some help when hiking, a guided tour of Pulpit Rock is a great idea!

You’ll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel, or cruise point and you’ll have a guide throughout the day and hike to help you and give you lots of local information.

Here are some of the best Pulpit Rock Guided Tours:

Guided hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen – great value tour with hotel pick up and drop off in Stavanger. Shore Excursion: Hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen – aimed at cruise day tourists but available for all. A great value tour. From Stavanger: Guided Winter Hike Pulpit Rock Preikestolen – perfect if you are visiting Stavanger in winter as hiking by yourself in the snow could be dangerous but this is with an experienced guide and they provide extra equipment like crampons if needed.

– Stavanger to Pulpit Rock by Boat

Why not combine a cruise up the incredible Lysefjord with your trip to Pulpit Rock ?! In the end, we hired a car, but if we hadn’t I would have certainly done this option.

A day trip to Pulpit Rock by cruise offers you lots of experiences and will fill a whole day in Stavanger! You’ll get on the boat in Stavanger Harbour and sail to and up Lysefjord with multiple stops on the way like waterfalls and with a guided tour.

You’ll get dropped at Forsand port and a bus will take you to the starting point of the Pulpit Rock hike.

The difference between Pulpit Rock by cruise trip to the guided tours of Pulpit Rock above is that although the timings and transport are organised, you will not have someone hike with you or a guide once you get off the boat. This is an independent trip in that way.

Once you finish the Pulpit Rock hike you will get an organised bus back to Stavanger rather than getting a cruise the way you came.

The top Lysefjord Cruises to Pulpit Rock:

Rodne Cruise and Bus Trip with Hike – this is without a guide but the cruise and bus are all organised. They offer summer and winter options too! GoFjord Cruise and Bus Trip with Hike – this is also unguided except for an audio guide on the boat but all timings are organised for you.

Pulpit Rock Viewing Cruise:

As mentioned, to get to Pulpit Rock by boat you do have to then get a bus, do the hike and get a bus back to Stavanger. If you are reading this post because you are wondering can you see Pulpit Rock without hiking?

You can get a short cruise to the base of the rock! Check out these 3 companies which offer 2.5 – 3 hour cruises from Stavanger up Lysefjord and past Pulpit Rock:

• Rodne Fjord Cruises
• Fjord Tours

– Stavanger to Pulpit Rock by Bus

If you need to get to the start of the Pulpit Rock hike by public transport but don’t fancy the boat option, OR you want a cheaper way to do this hike, you can get a bus from Stavanger to the start of the hike.

Visit Norway recommend the Preikestolen Express Bus which is run by Go Fjords , I also saw them driving around the city and doing a pick-up outside the hotel I stayed in the Radisson Blue Atlantic Hotel (which I recommend as a great hotel in Stavanger by the way!

Note – Most of these cruise and bus tours only run during the Summer months . For Pulpit Rock hiking in Winter check out this specific winter tour or consider getting a car!

– Stavanger to Pulpit Rock by Car

Lastly, we hired a car at Stavanger Airport for 2 days in Stavanger. We loved this option as we got to see so much of the surrounding area like all of these places to visit near Stavanger like kayaking in Frafjord! It enabled us to go to Pulpit Rock in our own time AND go later in the day to beat the crowds… which we did!

We used RentalCars to hire a car through Sixt at Stavanger Airport and had no issues !

It’s just a 45 minute drive from Stavanger to the start of the Pulpit Rock hike which involves a drive through the world’s largest underwater tunnel and a beautiful scenic drive the other drive.. but honestly, every drive in Norway is scenic, this is why I love the country so much and really recommend hiring a car !

– Oslo to Pulpit Rock

You may have flights booked to Oslo instead of Stavanger or have found yourself in Oslo now keen to do this famous Norway hike .

Oslo and Stavanger are quite far apart, the quickest way to get between them is by flying because even the train is around 7 hours .

This is fine if you are on a longer Norway road trip , I would definitely suggest getting to Stavanger from Oslo to do the Pulpit Rock hike but if you are just on a weekend break in Oslo , it’s unlikely you will have time to visit Pulpit Rock unless you spend a lot of time travelling.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellie Quinn | Travel Blogger🌏 (@thewanderingquinn)

Pulpit Rock Hike Starting Point

Ok, what is the starting point for the pulpit rock hike.

Well, it’s actually really easy to find on Google Maps because there is literally a point called Preikestolen hiking starting point ( here is the google maps link ) .

The starting point is also known as Preikestolen Base Camp and it has a car park, bathrooms, a cafe, a shop, a restaurant and accommodation. But don’t go thinking it’s super commercial. It still only has the basics and you should still come prepared for the hike.

– Pulpit Rock Car Park

There is an upper and lower car park at the Pulpit Hike starting point, I would suggest heading to the Preikestolen Lower Parking ( google maps link here ) as it’s a bit closer.

It costs 250 NOK with no parking limit, or 40 NOK for 2 hours but you definitely need more than 2 hours to do the hike.

There is an electric charging section in the car park too! Trust Norway to have this!

The Preikestolen Car Park’s opening times are 6:00 am to 10:00 pm .

You pay when you leave by card, and the machine gives you a QR code which you collect and put into the machine as you exit with your car.

And a tip for you so you don’t have the same issue as the car before us. There is a time limit on when you pay for parking and exit , so if you plan to sort things out or get food before actually leaving, don’t get your ticket too early as the machine won’t accept it after a while!

Pulpit Rock Hiking Trail

Let’s get into the actual hike now! From the starting point, the hike starts with a fairly steep gravel incline but you’ll be pleased to know, this doesn’t continue.

The walking trail to Pulpit Rock is easy to follow all the way and where the path becomes less obvious like over the rocks, there are red arrow markers to point you in the right direction.

What really surprised me is that the terrain constantly changes on this hike. I also thought that the hike would just be uphill the whole way in a straight line to the top but this is definitely not the case as it curves around a lot and takes you through many different places and viewpoints!

The path continues through the forest in a series of ups, downs and steps with a beautiful view of the reservoir to your right.

About a quarter of the way through it actually flattens out a bit along a wooden path which offers a nice respite. From here the inclined steps start but again, they don’t last too long.

Now you are up pretty high and you can start seeing mountain and fjord views . Around this point, you’ll see signs saying there are 2 more km to go meaning you’re halfway.

I found the second half of the trail much quicker, maybe because a lot of it is walking over big rock areas.

The final push to the top is quite hard , to be honest as it’s quite an incline up the rock, but before you know it, you’re at the top and you can see this oh-so-famous view!

– How difficult is Pulpit Rock?

Do i have to be fit to hike pulpit rock.

If you are used to hiking quite a bit like my husband and I are, you will find this a bit sweat braaking and be out of breath in sections but you will not find it that hard at all . We did the hike in 1 hour 30 minutes on the way there and 1 hour 10 minutes on the way which is much quicker than many online posts about hiking Preikestolen suggest because we are quite fit and hike a lot.

We did see many different people hiking Pulpit Rock. We saw families with fairly young children , older people, and people who were very out of breath and seemed not used to hiking like this, but at the end of the day, they did it! (And I know they did because we went later in the day so we saw all these people coming down as we were going up!)

You do need fair fitness to hike Pulpit Rock but with the right determination, the correct footwear like good trainers or hiking boots and snacks, water and energy, you will be able to do it without being hugely fit!

– How far is the Pulpit Rock hike?

The Preikestolen hiking trail signs say the hike is 4km . This isn’t that far and I can walk that easily but there are a lot of ups and downs and steps so it makes 4km feel much longer, to be honest!

– Time needed to hike Pulpit Rock?

Most Pulpit Rock travel guides suggest giving yourself a total of 5 hours . 2 hours up, 1 hour at the top and 2 hours down which I agree with.

It’s likely to take less time getting down and unless the weather is really nice you probably won’t spend an hour at the top, but at least this way, you give yourself more time to climb up if you struggle and less stress about being on time for bus return journeys etc.

We did the hike in 1 hour 30 minutes on the way there and 1 hour 10 minutes on the way back , we did it fairly fast but we didn’t hugely rush it so if you’re fit it can be done quicker.

– Can kids hike Pulpit Rock?

I saw quite a few families with children hiking to Pulpit Rock and I’ve seen plenty of photos of children up there.

It’s definitely not pushchair friendly and if you have a baby or toddler you are carrying on your back, your legs better be strong as there are a lot of steps.

Kids should be determined to do the hike, fairly fit and wearing appropriate clothing. Like adults, if they are unfit they will struggle.

Is Pulpit Rock Safe?

This is a popular question and rightly so as Pulpit Rock does look very dangerous.

However, when you are up there you realise that the rock itself is pretty big and you can either go to the edge or stay away from it.

You may think there should be a rope or barrier up here but I read that the Norwegian Government believe that WE should be cautious of nature , we shouldn’t have to barrier it off. Plus, if there are barriers people may feel more inclined to go past them and this could be even more dangerous.

Personally, I always stayed at least a foot from the edge , my body would literally not take me to the edge. My husband was sitting on the edge which made me feel sick but he trusts his ability to do this and even on the very edge, the edge isn’t tiny, there’s a lot of room to fall back and either side.

When Pulpit Rock gets busy I can imagine it becomes more dangerous as people are trying to dodge eachother and get good photos but again, you can go as far to the edge as you wish and even if you don’t go to the edge or even on the rock, you can still enjoy Pulpit Rock from afar and the hike itself is so beautiful, its worth it!

When searching for Pulpit Rock deaths there are a few articles for tourists who have died from falling up here but it doesn’t seem like a common thing.

Pulpit Rock Tips

– what to wear for the pulpit rock hike.

One thing to know about Norway is that the weather can change really quickly so it’s best to pack a variety of clothes with you. Pack a raincoat even if it looks like there is no rain and pack a warm jacket or jumper at least.

The walk up to Pulpit Rock is fairly covered but once you’re on the rock it can get very windy, cold and wet !

Wear leggings, shorts or hiking trousers and tops that are breathable.

Trainers with a good grip are suitable footwear for hiking Preikestolen but if you have hiking boots with ankle support , these will be better, especially if it’s wet.

I did this hike in early September and the weather was really nice. There are quite a few streams that run over the path, this was fine for us but I can imagine the paths will get wet and muddy after some rain so wear shoes that can handle this.

If you are hiking Pulpit Rock in winter on a tour like this , they will advise you on what to wear.

Make sure you pack enough water and food with you too.

– How to avoid the crowds at Pulpit Rock?

A few years ago photos of a crowded Pulpit Rock were going around Instagram and it looked pretty awful to be honest. But 1 – there are ways to avoid the crowds and 2 – this is an amazing place so if you can only go when everyone else does, I wouldn’t let that put you off. Often photos of crowds of people can look worse than it actually is!

We did the Pulpit Rock walk on a Saturday in early September so the sun didn’t set until about 8:00 pm. We got to the Preikestolen Base Camp in late afternoon and after hiking to the top and spending 1 hour at the top, as we walked down the sun was starting to set and it was 9:00pm by the time we got back to the car.

As we walked up we saw A LOT of people passing us walking down and when we got to the top there were only about 20 people up there with only a few more after us which was perfect!

Another way to experience fewer crowds would be to hike at Pulpit Rock at sunrise . And visiting during the day but on a weekday rather than a weekend is likely to help too.

If you do happen to get to Pulpit Rock early in the morning or stay late in the evening as we did, note that you should bring a torch , and as per the signs I saw, the car park opens at 6:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm so on those bright late summer nights in Norway, be sure to be back down by 10:00 pm so you can actually leave the car park!

From the research I’ve done on how to get to Pulpit Rock and Pulpit Rock day tours, going late in the day or early on is only possible if you hire a car …. We used RentalCars to hire a car through Sixt at Stavanger Airport and had no issues!

– How to get the best photo at Pulpit Rock?

Photos of Pulpit Rock are very cool! I’ve had so many people say I’m crazy because it looks so high, and it is high, but it does feel safer when you’re up there than what photos and videos may show.

To get the best Pulpit Rock photo you will need someone to take a photo of you . If you are on your own, just ask someone, I’m sure they will be happy to help.

You’ll see the famous edge as you approach the rock and this is where to get the best photo at Pulpit Rock.

We found that people were considerate and helpful when it came to taking photos and they would stay back from the edge, therefore out of the photo, and we created a bit of a photo line for the edge , but we did go when it was pretty quiet when it’s busier I’m sure this is harder to do.

The person taking the photo needs to get off the actual rock and walk back down the cliff below about 50m. There will be quite a gap between the photographer and the person posing and a camera or phone zoom is needed to get the best photo. We used zoom 3 on our iPhones for the zoomed photos you see here.

To get a view of the rock from above , if your legs can take it, you can continue up a path once you’re at Pulpit Rock which will give you a view over it.

If you have a drone, drone shots of Pulpit Rock look super cool ! My husband made this cool reel of him with his drone!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AR Belhaj (@ar.belhaj)

– Cheapest way to get to Pulpit Rock?

For the cheapest way to get to Pulpit Rock, you’ll want to get a bus from the city centre of Stavanger to the hike starting point. There is a Preikestolen Express Bus run by Go Fjord with prices from 389 NOK pp which is considerably cheaper than the cruise and bus option, guided tour and hiring a car.

Pulpit Rock in Winter

Finally, visiting Pulpit Rock in Summer is a popular time to go with many tourists from Stavanger and Norway cruise tourists doing the hike. Summer brings long light days and much safer weather for the hike, but for much of the year Norway has short daylight hours, is cold and snowy.

That doesn’t mean you can’t hike Preikestolen in winter though!

As mentioned above, from what I can see, the cruise boats and buses stop tours outside of June to September so to do Pulpit Rock in Winter, or Autumn or Spring, you’ll need to hire a car and do it yourself (with appropriate footwear and clothing), or join a winter guided trip.

These are some guided winter Pulpit Rock tours I have found:

• From Stavanger: Guided Winter Hike Pulpit Rock Preikestolen bookable on Get Your Guide
• Guided winter hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen bookable on Viator
• Lysefjorden Adventure Winter Hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen
• Explore Lysefjorden Preikestolen Winter Hike

I hope this has helped you understand how to do the Pulpit Rock Hike!

• More of my Norway posts you’ll like:

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Wednesday 15th of November 2023

What a wonderful detailed review of Pulpit Rock. I enjoyed the entire read and learned so much!! Thank you, Salaam!!

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2,000 'Mission: Impossible' Fans Scaled a 2,000-Foot Cliff for an Epic Film Screening

"The most impossible screening of #MissionImpossible Fallout," Tom Cruise wrote while expressing regret he couldn't attend the screening

This film screening isn’t for the faint of heart!

To celebrate the release of Mission: Impossible — Fallout, 2,000 people attended a screening of the film on Wednesday held at Norway’s Pulpit Rock, a steep cliff rising 2,000 feet in the air, where one of the film’s numerous death-defying stunts was filmed.

“2,000 feet, 2,00 people, 4 hours of hiking. The most impossible screening of #MissionImpossible Fallout,” the film’s star Tom Cruise wrote on Twitter alongside a breathtaking, and vertigo-inducing, photograph of the crowd assembled on the top of the impressive cliff.

“Thank you all for coming!” Cruise continued, before adding, “I wish I could have been there.”

A representative from Paramount tells PEOPLE that the screening sold out just 20 minutes after the event was announced in Norway on July 13th.

The lucky 2,000 individuals who were able to pick up tickets then had to hike for two hours in order to reach the top of the cliff — and had to hike again for another two hours after the screening, which was held at 11 p.m., was over. Of course, these fearless moviegoers had the help of guides (and flashlights) to help lead the way on their journey.

Alongside a behind-the-scenes photo that appeared to show several members of the audience hiking up the mountain for the screening, United International Pictures — who provided the film for the screening — wrote, “@TomCruise made an effort for us, so we’ll make the effort for him.”

Additionally, a rep for Paramount tells PEOPLE the screening was held as a way to promote tourism in the area.

RELATED VIDEO: Tom Cruise Opens Up About Recovering From His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Ankle Injury and How He Spent His Down Time

While Cruise wasn’t injured while filming the stunt at Pulpit Rock, he was injured filming a big scene that required him to jump from one rooftop to another in London. During the mishap, Cruise hit the side of the building instead and broke his ankle, requiring a break in filming while the actor went through extensive rehabilitation until he was able to return to set.

Cruise explained that following the injury he “ went right into rehab ,” spending 10-12 hours per day working on getting himself back in shape.

“Six weeks later I had to be on set and twelve weeks later I had to be sprinting again,” Cruise said in April during Cinemacon. “Doctors said they weren’t sure whether I’d be sprinting in nine months, let alone that time. I was like, ‘Okay, I gotta figure this out and I gotta figure it out fast.’ ”

Mission: Impossible — Fallout is in theaters now.

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Studio & exhibitor execs on what will bring more global audiences back to theaters: “you don’t have to put a lot of espresso machines in the lobby” – cinemacon, breaking news.

Cruise Control: ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ Revs To $330M WW – International Box Office

By Nancy Tartaglione

Nancy Tartaglione

International Box Office Editor/Senior Contributor

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SUNDAY UPDATE, WRITETHRU : Tom Cruise ruled the international box office this weekend as Paramount Pictures/Skydance’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout took the No. 1 spot with $76M in 56 markets. That hikes the overseas total to an estimated $205M through Sunday, and the global cume to $329.5M . At the same stage of play and in like-for-like markets, Fallout is 21% ahead of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation .

The drop from the record-breaking opening last session — when China’s Hello Mr Billionaire was nevertheless the top film internationally — was 53%. The Middle Kingdom will welcome Fallout on August 31, and is expected to play a sizable role in just how high the global gross goes with $800M worldwide not out of the question. As it did with Rogue Nation , Alibaba Pictures has a stake here and that last film set China records during its release.

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Sticking with this frame, however, there were 20 additional markets getting in on the action including France, Japan. Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. All were No. 1s and above Rogue Nation and its predecessor, Ghost Protocol . Japan was the lead hub on the first three films in the series (it slid to 2nd place as China took over on the last two) and this weekend grossed $8M from 367 cinemas to outpace Rogue Nation by 19%. Korea continues to lead all play at $41.5M (holding well against local opener Along With The Gods: The Last 49 Days ).

Also of particular note, Norway ’s $1.6M at 127 launch is the best for the franchise, for Cruise and for Paramount. It follows last week’s hiking/screening stunt atop Pulpit Rock which features during the movie’s last section (see below).

Among overall Fallout records for the weekend, 13 new markets had the top M:I franchise opening; 9 were the best ever for Cruise; and 8 set IMAX records for the series. In the format, M:I6 has seen audiences accept their mission to the tune of $10.6M overseas and $25.1M globally.

Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 joined JWFK in the billion-dollar club earlier this week and has through Sunday grossed $1.047B worldwide with markets still to come. I2 is now the No. 4 highest-grossing animated release ever, topping Zootopia , Finding Dory and Despicable Me 3 . Its big addition this session was Japan with $7.7M in a 5-day opening, to come in No. 2 behind Mission .

And, in other mile-markers, Sony’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation sailed past $200M in offshore waters, and breezed across $300M globally.

Next weekend will see wide rollout, minus some majors, on Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures’ prehistoric shark tale The Meg . Starring China catnip Jason Statham, it goes to the Middle Kingdom on Friday including on 550 IMAX screens there.

Breakdowns on this week’s films have been updated below.

In 13 of Fallout ’s 20 new markets, it set an opening record for the franchise as well as setting the biggest Tom Cruise start in nine. France , where a large part of the film was shot, opened to $8M from 705 locations to log a debut that’s 57% bigger than Ghost Protocol and 1% over Rogue . France is in the throes of a devastating heatwave which likely had a role in the movie not topping Rogue by a bigger percentage.

Japan , the lead market on the first three movies and the 2nd hub on the last two, got off to an $8M start as well, from 367 cinemas. That’s +24% on GP and +19% on Rogue . Australia was also new, with $5M from 304 and 45% of the market share. It’s the best start for the franchise and is well above the last two movies. Germany ’s $3.8M from 600 was good for 31% of the market and +7% on GP , +9% on Rogue . The Netherlands jumped in with $1.8M at 127 for the best M:I and Cruise bows.

As noted above, Norway ’s leap was the best for the franchise, Cruise and Paramount. With 57% of the market, it started at $1.6M from 127. That’s 156% over GP and 108% above Rogue . Denmark hit the same milestones with $1M at 101 and Sweden bowed to $956K in 122 cinemas, also the best for the series and Cruise.

Korea leads all play, holding with an $8.6M weekend despite the mega-arrival of sequel Along With The Gods: The Last 49 Days , and has now cumed $41.5M. The UK is next with a 50% drop for $18.7M to date.

Other major cumes include India (-75%/$12.9M cume), Taiwan (-36%/$9.9M cume), Indonesia (-54%/$9.4M), Mexico (-52%/$9.1M) and Brazil (-35%/$7.5M).

Italy is the next major on August 29, followed by China on August 31.

Overall, however, the drop was 36% with the top markets holding well including the UK (-40%), Germany (-22%), Australia (-37%), France (-43%), the Netherlands (-25%) and Spain (-45%).

The UK is at $51.7M (+50% on the original at the same stage) through Sunday and kept the ABBA musical playing in the No. 1 position for the 3rd consecutive frame. Australia has grossed $12.3M to date to stay in line with the previous movie, as is Germany at $11.3M so far.

In new openings, Brazil bowed with $1.2M at 448 locations for the biggest opening day and weekend of a musical — and 225% better than Mamma Mia! 1 . India ’s opening doubled the first movie at $133K in 171 locations.

There are stil 16 markets to come including Korea, Russia, Mexico, Japan and Italy.

The weekend was good for $19M in 42 markets including new entries Japan and Spain. Opening on a non-traditional Wednesday in Japan , the 5-day was $7.7M ($3.5M for just Sat/Sun). That gave it the No. 2 slot for a Western film behind Mission . In the slow-burn market, it’s set up to play through the lucrative Obon holiday period. 

In Spain , Incredibles 2 opened to an estimated $4.5M and No. 1. Boding well, the Saturday gross was the 2nd biggest opening Saturday ever for an animated film there. Holds were strong in Belgium (-22%), France (-34%), Israel (-36%) and Australia (-41%).

The weekend also propelled the Parr family to become the top Disney Animation/Pixar release of all time in New Zealand and the highest grossing Pixar release ever in Taiwan .

The Top 5 markets are China ($53.5M), the UK ($52.2M), Mexico ($37.2M), Brazil ($35M) and Australia ($33.1M). The next, and final, major openings come in September with Italy and Germany.

Sophomore weekends were strong in France ($8.5M cume) and the UK ($10.2M° while Germany dipped only 14% in the third frame for a cume of $11M. Latin America continues to deliver new lifetime records for the franchise with Mexico , in its 4th week, the latest market to join the club.  

Mexico leads all play at $24.1M, followed by Brazil ($16.8M), Russia ($16.5M), Australia ($13.3M) and Spain $11.7M). Still to come are Korea this week followed by China on August 17 and Italy on August 22.

The UK gave the insects a No. 2 welcome (No. 1 with previews) at $6.5M to debut ahead of the original film. Notable holds include Israel (-10%), South Africa (-29%), Belgium (-31%), Denmark (-32%), Sweden (-33%), Germany (-44%), Singapore (-44%), Czech Republic (-45%), Australia (-45%), France (-46%) and Austria (-46%).  

Korea leads play with $42.4M to date, followed by Mexico ($14.8M), Australia ($13.9M), Russia ($12.7M) and Brazil ($12.5M). Before China buzzes aboard, Italy opens August 14. Japan goes August 31.

SKYSCRAPER In 65 Universal markets, Dwayne Johnson’s action title added $5.2M for a $123.2M international gross and $187.7M worldwide. China has now reached $94M via Legendary East, adding $3M in the session. Together, that’s $281.7M global. The movie has topped Johnson-starrers San Andreas and Rampage in 22 and 30 markets, respectively. Japan is still on deck September 21.

Openings included Russia with $851K at 806 locations and more than doubling the previous titles in the series. Central America ’s $447K at 140 sites is also the best of the franchise and has topped the lifetime of the first movie. In Peru , The First Purge exceeded the cumes of all the previous films with $436K at 99. And in Malaysia , $350K bought TFP a start that’s in line with Election Year .

Among the top grossing markets are Mexico ($9.48M), the UK ($7.2M), France ($7M) and Germany ($5.4M). Colombia bows next weekend followed by Brazil on September 27.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE Ocean’s 8 (WB): $1.5M intl weekend (47 markets); $135.7M intl cume Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (WB): $1.1M intl weekend (13 markets); $2.4M intl cume The Equalizer 2 (SNY): $940K intl weekend (11 markets); $7.7M intl cume

IMAX also has screens in China on Hello Mr Billionaire which has now grossed $5M in the format. Overall, it’s reached about $294M after just two weekends. Also notable in China, Palme d’Or winner Shoplifters lifted $7.1M in its opening, according to local estimates.

PREVIOUS FRIDAY : Mission: Impossible – Fallout kept the action going during the midweeks to rise to $141.9M at the international box office through Thursday. Overseas, Tom Cruise’s latest turn as Ethan Hunt is now running 22% above Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation at the same stage of play and in like-for-like markets. The global total through yesterday is $231.4M . The movie will cross the $200M mark offshore and $300M worldwide this weekend.

In a rather spectacular event this week, 2,000 moviegoers hiked two hours up and two hours down to attend a screening atop Pulpit Rock in Forsand, Norway — the location used for the film’s final stretch. The screening was held at 11PM on August 1 after tickets sold out in 20 minutes in mid-July. Cruise couldn’t attend, but he sent a pre-taped message and posted the below on his Instagram afterwards.

View this post on Instagram 2,000 feet, 2,000 people, 4 hours of hiking. The most impossible screening of #MissionImpossible Fallout. Thank you all for coming! I wish I could have been there. A post shared by Tom Cruise (@tomcruise) on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:38am PDT

Elsewhere, Paramount Pictures/Skydance’s sixquel is adding 20 markets this session, including Japan, France and Australia. Notably on Wednesday, Fallout traveled to France where a large part of the film was shot. The total through two days is $3.7M. Including previews, it’s the best start for the franchise in the Hexagon.

Australia opened to $1.1M, 30% above Rogue Nation .

Also new this weekend will be Japan which opens today. It’s a sizable Mission hub having been the lead offshore market on the first three movies in the series, and No. 2 behind China on the last two. China has an August 31 release date.

In Korea , the total through Thursday is $34.7M. Fallout is holding well against the arrival of local title Along With The Gods: The Last 49 Days , a sequel to last year’s action fantasy Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds which is the 2nd highest grossing movie in Korea’s box office history.

The Top 5 markets overseas on Rogue Nation were China, Japan, Korea, the UK and France.

The action-packed Fallout , directed by Christopher McQuarrie, had a record-breaking start last weekend for the franchise domestically, internationally and globally and with runway ahead is expected to top $700M worldwide.

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Pulpit Rock Cruise & Hike

• Experience the jaw-dropping beauty of Norway's Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock on our Glacier Walk & Waterfall Sightseeing shore excursion.
• Feel the spray of Hengjane Falls and marvel at the imposing Vagabond's Cave as you cruise through the stunning fjords.
• Embark on an invigorating 2-hour hike to Pulpit Rock's flat summit, standing 604 meters above Lysefjorden - a Nordic adventure like no other!
• Hurry to secure your spot! This popular tour sells out fast and you don't want to miss out on Norway's most famous attraction.

Pulpit Rock Cruise & Hike

The fjords of Norway are declared to be the finest unspoiled travel destinations in the world. The Lysefjord and the Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) may be the most impressive of them all. This is the ideal tour for travellers seeking a true Nordic adventure.

Departing Stavanger with your learned guide, you will board a trusty vessel to Lysefjord, taking you to Vagabond's Cave and close enough to Hengjane Falls to feel the spray. Following these sightings, you'll see Pulpit Rock, a natural rock formation consisting of a steep cliff which rises 604 metres above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau, with an almost flat top of approximately 25 by 25 metres.

On the way back, you'll disembark at Oanes and be transported by bus to Preikestolhytta, where the non-guided hike to the Pulpit Rock begins. The hike takes approximately 2 hours each way. At the top, experience the magnificence, calmness, and magic of the Pulpit Rock. Following the hike, you will take the bus to Tauto to catch a ferry back to Stavanger.

You will want to book this tour for a truly rewarding and up close visit to one of Norway's most famous and awesome attractions!

Please Note: Tickets for the ferry are not included, and must be purchased on board the ferry on the day of the tour. Ferry tickets cost approximately 52 NOK per adult, 28 NOK per child (ages 4 to 16), and 28 NOK per senior (ages 67 and older). Infants (ages 3 and under) may travel free of charge.

Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible rock climb is actually pretty legit, according to Free Solo ’s Alex Honnold

In Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Oscar nominated documentary Free Solo , Alex Honnold took on the insane challenge of climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan—a mere 3,300-foot slab of granite—free of any ropes or protective equipment. It was pretty much the real-life equivalent of a Tom Cruise stunt. How perfect that Honnold is now lending his climbing expertise to break down one of Cruise’s most insane stunts to date: the Mission: Impossible II free solo climb.

Any M:I fan knows Cruise, an actor committed to taking himself to the edge of death for our viewing pleasure, did most of the climb at Utah’s Dead Horse Point himself (though notably on digitally-removed cables and ropes). So are his gigantic leaps and one-handed hangs realistic? Yes and no.

GQ.com enlisted the Free Solo star to chime in on the authenticity of the bananas sequence, along with a handful of other iconic movie rock climbing scenes. A lot of the M:I II climb is pretty legit. That rest Ethan Hunt takes with his knees tucked into a crack in the rock? Totally a thing. Sliding downwards and dramatically catching onto the lip of a rock with your finger tips? “Somewhat realistic,” Honnold says in the video. But as accurate as a lot of it is, the whole stunt is a ridiculous dramatization of actual free soloing. “It’s totally over the top. Turned up to 11.” But of course it is; no M:I movie should be anything less. Here’s a free idea for you Christopher McQuarrie : cast Honnold as the next M:I baddie so he and Cruise can try to out-daredevil each other for a full two hours.

Check out the rest of the video, where Honnold breaks down Matthew McConaughey’s surprisingly realistic climbing fail in Failure to Launch and the nonsensical waterfall ascent in 2015’s Point Break .