Ruta Provincial 307 Neuquén Volcanic Spine Explorer

Ruta Provincial 307 traces the spine of Neuquén’s volcanic plateau from the thermal town of Caviahue to the remote border crossing at Icalma. This lesser-known route parallels the more famous Ruta de los Siete Lagos but trades tourist crowds for raw Patagonian wilderness. The road climbs through ancient lava fields beneath Volcán Copahue’s smoking crater, passing the emerald waters of Laguna del Caviahue and crossing the Continental Divide at Paso Icalma — a wind-scoured pass where Argentina meets Chile.

Moderate difficulty requiring high clearance for washboard gravel and seasonal snow patches above 1500 meters. Stock 4WD handles most conditions, but carry chains May through September. Fuel and supplies in Caviahue only — the 120-kilometer stretch to the border has no services. Best driven October through April when the pass stays open. You’ll experience Neuquén’s volcanic heartland without the crowds, connecting remote thermal springs and pristine lakes that few overlanders ever see.