Laguna del Laja National Park, Nature reserve in Santa Bárbara, Chile.

Laguna del Laja National Park is a nature reserve in the Andean highlands featuring the emerald lake and the prominent Antuco volcano rising above the landscape. The protected area spans diverse terrain with volcanic formations, alpine meadows, and forested slopes.

The sources do not record a founding date or the park's creation history; they describe the area's earlier use instead. Pehuenches living in the zone used the Antuco pass to trade goods to and from the Argentine pampas. The park now protects the Laja River headwaters, Antuco Volcano and Laguna del Laja, which borders rather than lies within the protected area.

Pehuenche people used the Antuco pass to trade goods to and from the Argentine pampas. Along the Sendero de Chile stretch by the lake's south shore, walkers pass memorial plaques to the young victims of the Antuco Tragedy.

Access is by private vehicle from Los Ángeles on the Q-45 route to Antuco, 93 km mostly paved, or by rural bus (Islajacoop) to Abanico, where the pavement ends. The main trail follows a Sendero de Chile stretch past the lava river and Las Chilcas to the Los Barros military base. A steeper trail starts behind the ranger houses toward Laguna Verde and Sierra Velluda.

The matuasto, a harmless lizard among the largest reptiles in the province, lives in the volcanic rocks and is hard to find; the slender lizard (Liolaemus tenuis), with green, yellow and blue spots, can be seen on tree trunks and lies inactive through winter. The park also holds 47 bird species.