Parque Nacional Villarrica encompasses the volcano itself and the forests and highland meadows on its flanks. Beyond the volcano ascent, the park contains several day hikes through araucaria and lenga beech forest, including a trail around the base of the volcano that gives changing views of the cone throughout the day. The park is also accessible from the Argentine side, and experienced trekkers do multi-day crossings to Junín de los Andes.
CONAF, the Chilean parks service, operates a visitor centre near the ski resort base. Rangers here can advise on trail conditions and alert levels. The park is generally open year-round, but some trails close in winter due to snow. Entry fee is around 5,000 Chilean pesos for foreign visitors.