Most visitors to the Crazy Horse Memorial only see the massive, still-in-progress sculpture from afar. But twice a year—once in June and again in September—you have the rare opportunity to hike right up to the monument itself, all the way to Crazy Horse’s outstretched arm. This is the Crazy Horse Volksmarch. The term “Volksmarch” comes from the international walking organization that sponsors the event, and this particular hike has grown to become the most popular organized hike in the United States. Every spring and fall, it draws thousands of participants from all over the country.

Admission to the memorial is three cans of food per person which is donated through Share Food Drive, and then hiking registration is $4 or $10 if you want to souvenir patch. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m., and hiking takes place from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with all hikers required to be off the trail by 4:00 p.m.

Participants can choose between two hiking routes—a 5K and a 10K—both of which merge for a shared descent down the mountain.

I would encourage you to read about Crazy Horse/Tasunke Witco on the Crazy Horse Memorial site to learn more about the importance of the site you are seeking to explore.

Hiking the Crazy Horse Memorial

When I attended the Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch on June 7th, 2025, I arrived at 6:30 a.m., having camped the night before at Sylvan Lake Campground. At that early hour, there were only about 30 cars in the lot—but by 8:00 a.m., the crowd had swelled to hundreds, possibly even over a thousand participants. According to event staff, the peak attendance typically hits around 10:00 a.m., with a steady stream of hikers arriving and starting throughout the morning.

Along the route, there are four checkpoints on each course, with the fourth checkpoint being the same for both. At each stop, volunteers punch your card and offer drinks and snacks for sale—these serve as small fundraisers for local scouting groups and similar organizations. The trails themselves vary a bit each year to offer a fresh experience and to help avoid forming permanent, unofficial paths through the forest.

The entire event feels a bit like a road or trail race, with the course marked by brightly colored ribbons and banners at the start and finish lines. The cheering as I crossed the finish gave it a festive, celebratory feel—definitely more than just a typical day hike.

One of the most memorable parts of the experience for me was being near the front of the line and choosing the 5K course, which allowed me to be the second person to reach the summit. It gave me a rare and incredibly special moment—standing on the monument with no crowds around, just me and the sweeping views.

This kind of solitude at the peak is nearly impossible later in the day. Throughout the event, there’s a constant stream of hikers arriving at the summit. If having that quiet, crowd-free moment on top of the monument is important to you, your only real chance is to start early and move quickly.

A special bonus to the experience was the chance to meet some of the sculptors and carvers who were onsite during the event. They were friendly and happy to answer questions, and were more than willing to take my picture. They were very nice men who made the experience that little but better.

As an aside, while I was at the peak near Crazy Horse’s outstretched arm, I spotted some mountain goats on a nearby side road. The carvers mentioned that these goats are frequent visitors and can sometimes be a bit of a nuisance.

Even more unforgettable was the opportunity to meet Adam Ziolkowski, who kindly handed me a piece of rock from a pile of stone that had been chipped off the mountain during carving. He even signed it for me. Adam is the son of Ruth and sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, the original visionaries and founders of this monumental project. After Korczak’s passing, Adam took on a leading role and remains actively involved in the ongoing construction and maintenance of the Crazy Horse Memorial.

If you’re interested in learning more about Korczak and Ruth’s story— the Crazy Horse Memorial site offers an excellent overview of their journey.

Overall, the hike becomes fairly steep once you reach the point where the two trails merge on the backside of the monument. From there, it follows a dirt roadway that is largely sun-exposed, so I highly recommend bringing trekking poles and applying face sunscreen. The combination of incline and exposure can be taxing, especially later in the day.

That said, there’s no need to rush. The event allows plenty of time to reach the summit, so take it at your own pace and enjoy the experience. The descent follows a mix of dirt and paved road, making for a smoother trip down.

If you’re not planning to wake up early and race to the summit for a crowd-free experience, I recommend opting for the 10K course. It winds through forested terrain and offers unique, lesser-seen angles of the Crazy Horse Memorial. The elevation gain isn’t significantly different between the 5K and 10K routes—the main difference is just in distance, not difficulty.

Having gained admission to the Crazy Horse Memorial for this event, don’t forget to stop by the Indian Museum of North America, the Mountain Carving Gallery, and the Ziolkowski Family Life Collection.

One thing I have to say is that this event is incredibly well organized, with numerous volunteers running it as if they did it every weekend. Their smooth coordination truly impressed me.

Happy Trekking!

-Aurora