Flørlitrappene (the Flørli Stairs) is located in the small village of Flørli, on the south side of the Lysefjord. The roadless village has a long history of hydropower but is best known for the world's longest wooden staircase of 4,444 steps.
How long is the hike up Flørlitrappene?
The hike up Flørlitrappene and down Rallarstien is 5 kilometres long. The staircase itself is 1,470 metres long and has an ascent of 740 metres. The round trip takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes, excluding breaks and photography.
It is a demanding but child-friendly hike. Allow a little more time and be extra careful on the steepest parts if you have children with you.
How to get to Flørlitrappene?
To get to Flørlitrappene you need to take a ferry or speedboat to Flørli. These run between Lauvvik and Lysebotn. There is no road to Flørli. Find updated timetables here. You are recommended to book tickets in advance, especially during the high season. You can also travel to Flørli by private boat and moor at the guest jetty.
When is the season for Flørlitrappene?
The season for Flørlitrappene runs from mid-April to the end of October. Travelling in mid-winter can be associated with the risk of avalanches and slipping on steep slopes. The snow in the steep part of the stairs is usually melted away by mid-April. Walking down the staircase is not recommended as it has several steep sections. It can also cause problems for other hikers on their way up the stairs.
Tour description
Flørlitrappene, which runs along the old pipe street, is 1470 metres long and has an ascent of 740 metres. The tour starts from Flørli quay and you follow the stairs up to Ternevatnet lake. Here you have a beautiful view of the Lysefjord and the Preikestol massif.
When you reach the top, you'll find a solid cairn that points the way down the more than 100-year-old Rallarstien trail. The path was originally used by the rallars when the dam at Ternevatnet was being built.
As you walk down the path, you will see several large boulders set up as signposts. The path runs for a while on the bare rock, before you have to cross a stone scree field. Sherpa stairs have been built on the most demanding sections.
When you come down to the vegetation, you cross the construction road. You must then cross Flørliåa and one of the tributaries on a bridge. You then follow the marked path that takes you back to Flørli.
Important info for the hike
- Bring food and drink. You cannot fill up your water bottle during the hike.
- Dogs must be leashed from April to November. There are grazing animals in the area.
- In summer, there is an art exhibition and café in the old power station on the quay, and you can join a guided tour of the roadless village.
- Accommodation at Flørli 4444 or Stavanger Tourist Association.
- There is a guest pier for small boats.
- Packing list for mountain hikes – and everything else you need to know to go hiking in Fjord Norway
Other hikes
- If you're looking for a shorter hike, you can do the shorter circuit of the Flørlitrappa stairs. After 700 steps, you leave the stairs and take the path through the forest back to the village. The Flørli Klippevandring and Fossestien trails are other spectacular alternatives to the stairs. Read more about the trails in Flørli here.
- For a long round trip, continue when you reach the top. Follow the old construction road to the dam in Stora Flørlivatnet lake. From here, follow the red-marked trail back to Flørli. From Flørlistølen, follow the old track. Remember to turn off the gravel road just below Stora Flørlivatn at Åkroken at 700 masl. The road only leads to a closed tunnel. The hike is approx. 9.7 km, 860 metres in altitude and takes around 4 hours 30 minutes.
- Flørli is also the starting point for hikes to the tourist cabins Langavatn and Blåfjellenden. You can also follow the Lysefjorden Rundt trail to Kjerag, Skåpet or Vinddalen.
