September 26, 2016
CRAZY HORSE, S.D. – Crazy Horse Memorial is hosting its fourth annual Autumn Volksmarch, Sunday, September 30. Admission to the Memorial is waived for hikers but a donation of three (3) cans of food per person is requested in an effort to support local food drives. The American Volkssport Association hikers’ fee is a cash-only, $3 per person - regardless of age. Check-in for the 10k (6.2 miles) begins at 8 a.m. at the upper parking area of the Memorial. All hikers must be checked-in by 1 p.m. and off the trail by 4 p.m.
This round-trip route on hilly, rough terrain, takes hikers to an elevation of 6,500 feet above sea level on the Arm of Crazy Horse, the turnaround point. The hike takes an average of two to four hours to complete and hikers are urged to pace themselves, wear proper attire – including shoes - for the weather and the terrain, and to travel lightly. Infant strollers and wheelchairs are not suitable for the terrain. All pets are prohibited on the trail.
Water stations and port-a-potties are available along the trail. Due to the popularity of the event, parking may be quite a distance from the starting point. Shuttle buses will be available.
Twice a year, the public has the opportunity to partake in the nation’s most popular organized hike and come face-to-face with Crazy Horse. This nine-story-high portion of the World’s Largest Mountain Carving in progress was completed on June 3, 1998. The Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch, sponsored by the Black Hills chapter of the AVA, set a record – 15,000 hikers in one year.
Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial will open at 6 a.m. to serve breakfast the morning of the Volksmarch. Lunch and dinner will also be served and snacks are available at the Snack Shop. Coffee is always free at the Memorial.
Crazy Horse Memorial offers historical and current information about Native American life at the Indian Museum of North America® and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center®. The Mountain Carving Room provides an up-to-date film about the Mountain crew and their progress throughout the summer. Korczak and Ruth’s Studio-Home and Workshop houses sculptures, artwork and antiques belonging to the Ziolkowski family. Crazy Horse Memorial also offers dining at Laughing Water Restaurant and Snack Shop and a Gift Shop featuring exclusive Crazy Horse and Native American handmade gifts.
