 Tree Molds ( photo ) is an area within the Craters of the Moon Wilderness where lava flows overran part of a forest . The trees were incinerated but as some of them burned they released enough water to cool the lava to form a cast . Some of these casts survived the eruption and mark the exact location and shape of the burning trees in the lava . Both holes and horizontal molds were left , some still showing shapes indicative of bark . The actual Tree Molds area is a mile ( 1 @.@ 6 km ) from the Tree Molds parking lot and picnic area off a moderately difficult wilderness trail . The Wilderness trail also leaves from this parking lot , and extends nearly 6 miles ( 9 @.@ 7 km ) into the wilderness area before gradually disappearing near The Sentinel cinder cone . The 1 @.@ 8 miles ( 2 @.@ 9 km ) Broken Top loop trail encircles the youngest cinder cone in the monument and can be done separately or as part of a longer trek on the Wilderness trail . A pull off on the spur road leading to the Tree Molds area presents the Lava Cascades , a frozen river of Blue Dragon Flow lava that temporarily pooled in the Big Sink . 
