In one embodiment, a node coupled to one or more storage devices executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a volume layer. The volume layer manages volume metadata embodied as mappings from offsets of a logical unit (LUN) to extent keys associated with storage locations for extents on the one or more storage devices. Volume metadata is maintained as a dense tree metadata structure representing successive points in time. The dense tree metadata structure has multiple levels, wherein a top level of the dense tree metadata structure represents newer volume metadata changes and descending levels of the dense tree metadata structure represent older volume metadata changes. The node accesses a latest version of changes to the volume metadata by searching from the top level to the descending levels in the dense tree metadata structure.