Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips.

In recent years, Native American tourism has grown by leaps and bounds, meaning a visit to a reservation is no longer just a roll of the dice. Reservations and Native-run sites in Indian Country offer an extraordinary array of activities likely to wow most visitors.

Visiting Indian Country (the official term used by the American Indian Native Tourism Association to describe Native spaces within the United States) can provide an intimate impression of Native American life. Many reservations lead guided tours blending a healthy recipe of history and current events.

More surprisingly, though, various reservations offer unexpected experiences, ranging from downhill skiing to beer tasting to alligator wrestling. Although not all of the 320-plus reservations in the United States welcome visitors, those that do often defy stereotypes.

Hit the slopes

There are two major ski resorts located on reservation land in the U.S. Ski Apache, in south central New Mexico, offers top Southwest slopes. Apres ski, schussers can hang out at the Mescalero Apache Tribe-run Inn of the Mountain Gods, do a little gambling at the casino, or spend more time outside dashing through the snow on a sleigh ride. Come springtime, the reservation’s playground expands, with options like ziplining, golf, horseback riding and fishing.

In northern Arizona, the White Mountain Apache Tribe runs a sportsperson’s paradise on the Fort Apache Reservation. Seasoned skiers can enjoy fresh powder covering challenging trails and runs. Once the weather warms up, the action moves to Hawley Lake, where you can fish or sail. The tribe runs Sunrise Park Resort, but there are also less expensive lodging options available in the area, including furnished cabins for rent within easy walking distance of Lake Hawley.

Take an alligator selfie

Given its location smack-dab in the middle of Tourism Central, it’s no wonder that Florida’s Miccosukee Indian Reservation offers tons of activities for visitors. There’s golfing and gambling and the gamut of live entertainment. But the southern Florida reservation may be best known for its alligator encounters. The Miccosukee learned early on how to capture the critters for food and for their prized skin. Today, the tribe’s relationship with alligators has changed, moving toward conservation and education. During “alligator wrestling” demonstrations, wranglers (often tribal members) showcase the power of these primordial creatures. Visitors are allowed to pet the gators, and pose for the ubiquitous selfie. To look for alligators in the wild, there are airboat rides through the Everglades, led by Miccosukee fishermen, froggers and hunters.

Go chase waterfalls

Located adjacent to Grand Canyon country in northern Arizona, the Havasupai Reservation houses two spectacular water cascades. Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls are only about two miles apart, but to get to them in the first place, you’ll have to take a strenuous 10-mile hike which requires a permit from the tribe. Supai is the capital of the reservation, but it’s accessible only by foot, pack animal or helicopter. So, before you take that hike to the falls, beef up energy levels with a burger served on a fry bread bun at the Supai Cafe.

Tip a canoe and grab an IPA, too

The Yurok Tribe of Klamath, California lives in the heart of Redwood Country. Almost half of the world’s old-growth coastal redwoods is located in these parts, so it makes sense that the tribe handcrafts traditional canoes made from felled trees. Cooler still, visitors can float down the Klamath River in said canoes. More unexpected, the Yuroks run one of few tribal-owned breweries in North America. Mad River Brewing Company is a state-of-the-art brewery with a tap room and restaurant (standard pub fare) attached.

Stay in a teepee

The Crow Indian Reservation is located in southern Montana, a land where the deer and the antelope and the buffalo play. Crow Agency, near the Bighorn Recreation Area, is the headquarters of the reservation. The tribe helps run overnight teepee camping experiences near the Little Big Horn River including a traditional dinner, language and dance lessons, and storytelling. Daytrippers can opt to saddle up for a horseback tour, led by native guides, to Little Big Horn Battlefield Monument.

Immerse yourself in a Painted Desert

Flickr CC: Grand Canyon National Park

Navajo Nation is the largest reservation in the country, spanning more than 27,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Throughout the reservation, vivid murals are painted on abandoned buildings and roadside stands as part of the Painted Desert Project, which encourages artists to embed themselves in local communities. The reservation also houses more than a dozen national monuments and plenty of water recreation areas, including the Navajoland shoreline of Lake Powell. For a truly authentic Navajo experience, stay in a hogan, a traditional eight-sided one-room house. Mind you, the accommodations are primitive–there is no electricity or running water, and bedding is either a mattress or a sheepskin lying on the dirt floor. There are also plenty of hotels, campgrounds and RV parks on or near the reservation.

Take a dip in a hot spring

The Wind River Reservation in southwestern Wyoming is home to both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. The tribes ceded the Thermopolis hot springs to the state of Wyoming in a treaty in 1896. However, thanks to a proviso established by the tribes, the public springs are accessible to the general public without charge. Four miles south of Thermopolis, back on reservation land, explore Wind River Canyon’s amazing scenery by car or raft.

Hop on a Hopi Arts Trail

Up in northeastern Arizona, the Hopi Arts Trail shines light on the tribe’s vibrant artistic traditions. The trail is a cooperative made up of Hopi-owned galleries, artists, and guides in villages across the Hopi reservation. Get introduced to artists working on basket weaving, Kachina Doll carving, pottery and silversmithing, the four most prominent art forms on the reservation, either through a guided or self-driving tour.

Make moccasins

Members of the Ojibwe Tribe of east central Minnesota are some of the country’s original crafters. Toss them some porcupine quills or a basket of beads and a masterpiece may result. The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia, about an hour and a half north of the Twin Cities, offers classes in traditional Ojibwe arts, including beading and pottery. You can learn how to make a corn husk doll, a pair of earrings made from porcupine quills (just be careful), or some comfy moccasins. Many of the workshops are taught by tribal elders. After class, opt for a hike through Father Hennepin State Park or test your luck at Grand Casino Mille Lacs.