Hiking Florli 4444: A Hike with a Difference!

The Stavanger region of Norway offers many hiking possibilities, including the famous Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten. There are however, many other spectacular hikes in the region that are less well known, but just as spectacular. Florli 4444 was one of the most memorable hikes we did during our three week road trip around Norway. Read on to find out all about hiking Florli 4444.

HIKING FLORLI 4444

SO WHAT IS FLORLI 4444?

Florli 4444 is the world’s longest wooden staircase – 4444 steps in all! This staircase follows an old pipeline and trolley railway up the mountain, built to service the hydro-electric power station, built in 1917. The old power station has long been replaced but the staircase remains as a unique hiking destination.

THE TINY VILLAGE OF FLORLI

Florli is a tiny village on the Lysefjord. Most of the year there are just a handful of people living here, although these numbers swell through tourism in the summer months. It is a pretty little place, well worth a visit. You’ll find both a café and youth hostel here.

GETTING TO FLORLI

Florli can be accessed via ferry. From Stavanger you will need to have your own transport to get to Lauvik or organise a guided hike, which will include all the transport arrangements. We organised everything through Lysefjorden Adventure. Geir, our guide picked us up at 8am for the drive to Lauvvik which takes about 50 minutes. Here we caught the ferry to Flori which takes about 1.5 hours. This ferry takes you along the Lysefjord and includes a commentary and information sheet of all the sights along the way. You get to see the impressive Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) from below.

HIKING FLORLI 4444: THE WORLD’S LONGEST STAIRCASE!

The hike begins as soon as you get off the ferry. Stretching up in front of you are the 4444 steps of Florli (not that you can see them all from the bottom!) 4444 steps is similar to 270 floors and that’s what you have to climb!

The steps follow the water pipeline and trolley railway used to transport people and goods up the mountain, for use in the hydro electric power station.

The climb is long and steep, very steep in places! Every 500 steps there is a marker telling you how far you’ve come. By the 500 marker I was wondering what we were doing. This hike is tough, even if you’re a regular hiker. You are climbing steps for 2 hours. Never will I look at the stepper machine in the gym in the same way again! As you continue upwards the views are incredible, back down to the fjord below. It is the views and the marker signs that keep you going, steadily upwards.

There are many lookout points along the way and places to stop and get your breath. At some points there are picnic tables positioned next to the stairs. Even a derelict café at about halfway, which originally housed the winching mechanism for the trolley railway.

We plodded continually upwards, stopping briefly at various points for a rest or drink and to take photographs. The boys were spurred on by a chocolate cookie every 1000 steps.

After about two hours of climbing we made it to the 4444^th step. Once you get there you’ll see that there are actually several more steps to the top. By this point, it really doesn’t matter, you’ve made it to the top. What an achievement.

At the top there is a small lake. Not far from here we stopped for our picnic lunch. We’d definitely earned our lunch today. Lunch with a view…

DESCENDING TO FLORLI

It is not recommended to descend the steps as it is deemed to be unsafe. There are two routes to descend back to Florli: Store Runden (4 hours) and Rallarstien (3 hours). We took the shorter route as we wanted to get back and catch the earlier ferry.

The Rallarstien trail is well marked and follows the hundred-year old path that was once used by the people, The Rallarer, who were employed to build the pipeline and Florli power plant. The Rallarer were unprivileged men doing physically demanding jobs. They would carry their body weight, in loads on their backs.

The descent is moderate although steep, slippery and rocky at the top.

As you descend you hike through some lovely woodland and pass several freshwater streams where you can refill your water bottles.

The views down to the little village of Florli are beautiful during the later part of the hike.

We managed to get back to the village of Florli in time for the 3.45pm ferry back to Lauvvik. If you miss this one, then you have to wait until 6pm. The entire hike took us 4.5 hours.

AN ICE-CREAM AT THE CAFE IN FLORLI

Once you get back to Florli have a well deserved ice-cream and cold drink at the Florli cafe, while you wait for the ferry. The cafe serves a variety of hot food, drinks and snacks.

WHO IS FLORLI 4444 SUITABLE FOR?

Hiking the 4444 steps of Florli requires a decent level of physical fitness. This is a strenuous hike. This is not a hike for those that have a fear of heights or health problems.

Children need to be of an age were they can hike by themselves for longer periods of time. This is not a hike for small children who need to be carried or have their hands held. My recommendation would be at least 6/7 years of age and with some hiking experience. Our boys aged 10, 12 and 14 had no problems with this hike. In fact, they were quicker than me for much of it!

On the day of our hike most people climbing were adults. We saw two other children.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING FLORLI 4444

It takes approximately five hours to hike Florli 4444, but getting to and from Stavanger takes 2.5 hours each way, so this is a full day trip. We left Stavanger at 8am and arrived back at 6pm. This is the fastest you can do it due to the ferry timings.

It is difficult to hike Florli 4444 using public transport, so you will need your own car or to book yourselves onto a guided hike, as we did. Our hike was organised by Geir of Lysefjorden Adventure. He made all the transport arrangements and guided us throughout the day. He can organise a variety of private hiking trips around Stavanger, including Florli 4444, Preikestolen and Kjerag.

Wear hiking shoes and always carry a rain jacket. The weather can change rapidly and it can be windy at the top. As always layers are best for hiking.

There are no toilet facilities on the hike, although there are toilets at the start and end of the hike, in the cafe at Florli.

Take plenty of energising snacks with you. 

Take a refillable water bottle. There are plenty of streams and lakes where you can refill once you’ve climbed the steps.

FOR MORE ON NORWAY:

• New Zealand: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Kids
• South Africa: Climbing Table Mountain in Cape Town with Kids
• Bhutan: Hiking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan
• China: Hiking the Great Wall of China with Kids

Would you take on the challenge of hiking Florli 4444, the world’s longest wooden staircase?