Scenic Volcano Roads

Roads that follow geology

Some roads were built because the volcano made the only flat space. Others were carved across cooled lava because it was the shortest way. Either way, driving them feels different from driving a regular highway.

These are not always good roads. Many are single lane, some are gravel, a few are best avoided in wet weather. But they tend to deliver views that the same landscape from a viewpoint cannot match.

Selected drives

Iceland's Ring Road passes a remarkable sequence of volcanic landscapes, but the side roads off it are where the variety is. The road to Hverir in the north drops through a lunar steam field.

Chile's Carretera Austral cuts through the volcanic lake district. The stretch around Lago General Carrera is gravel for much of its length but the views are worth the slow pace.

Italy's road around Etna's mid-slopes circles the entire mountain, passing through pistachio villages and across recent lava flows.

Indonesia's road to Mount Bromo is paved and busy now but the final stretch across the Sea of Sand is unforgettable in the early morning.

Practicalities

Volcanic gravel is hard on tyres. A four-wheel-drive is wise for any unpaved section. Carry a spare and the knowledge of how to change it.

Fuel is often far apart in volcanic regions. Fill up at every opportunity.

Timing the light

Volcanic landscapes photograph best in the first and last hours of daylight. The texture of lava, the steam from vents, the colour of pumice all respond to low light.

Frequently asked questions