diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 2af905e..e00e0a4 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7ab67060fc6b8ef687992d439ca0fa36e7ed17e9a0b16b25b601e8757df720de"
 dependencies = [
  "data-encoding",
- "syn 1.0.109",
+ "syn 2.0.114",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1744,6 +1744,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "percent-encoding",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "fs_extra"
+version = "1.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "42703706b716c37f96a77aea830392ad231f44c9e9a67872fa5548707e11b11c"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "futures"
 version = "0.3.31"
@@ -5467,7 +5473,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "27c6023962132f4b30eb4c172c91ce92d933da334c59c23cddee82358ddafb0b"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
- "itertools 0.10.5",
+ "itertools 0.14.0",
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
  "syn 2.0.114",
@@ -6617,6 +6623,7 @@ name = "testing-framework-runner-local"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
+ "fs_extra",
  "tempfile",
  "testing-framework-core",
  "thiserror 2.0.18",
@@ -7564,7 +7571,7 @@ version = "0.1.11"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "c2a7b1c03c876122aa43f3020e6c3c3ee5c05081c9a00739faf7503aeba10d22"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+ "windows-sys 0.61.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
diff --git a/logos/runtime/ext/src/lib.rs b/logos/runtime/ext/src/lib.rs
index 8701c6c..0ae97fc 100644
--- a/logos/runtime/ext/src/lib.rs
+++ b/logos/runtime/ext/src/lib.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,25 @@ impl LocalDeployerEnv for LbcExtEnv {
         )
     }
 
+    fn build_node_config_from_template(
+        topology: &Self::Deployment,
+        index: usize,
+        peer_ports_by_name: &HashMap<String, u16>,
+        options: &StartNodeOptions<Self>,
+        peer_ports: &[u16],
+        template_config: Option<&<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>,
+    ) -> Result<BuiltNodeConfig<<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>, DynError> {
+        let mapped_options = map_start_options(options)?;
+        <LbcEnv as LocalDeployerEnv>::build_node_config_from_template(
+            topology,
+            index,
+            peer_ports_by_name,
+            &mapped_options,
+            peer_ports,
+            template_config,
+        )
+    }
+
     fn build_initial_node_configs(
         topology: &Self::Deployment,
     ) -> Result<Vec<NodeConfigEntry<<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>>, ProcessSpawnError> {
@@ -103,6 +122,14 @@ impl LocalDeployerEnv for LbcExtEnv {
         <LbcEnv as LocalDeployerEnv>::initial_persist_dir(topology, node_name, index)
     }
 
+    fn initial_snapshot_dir(
+        topology: &Self::Deployment,
+        node_name: &str,
+        index: usize,
+    ) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+        <LbcEnv as LocalDeployerEnv>::initial_snapshot_dir(topology, node_name, index)
+    }
+
     fn build_launch_spec(
         config: &<Self as Application>::NodeConfig,
         dir: &Path,
@@ -135,6 +162,7 @@ fn map_start_options(
     mapped.peers = options.peers.clone();
     mapped.config_override = options.config_override.clone();
     mapped.persist_dir = options.persist_dir.clone();
+    mapped.snapshot_dir = options.snapshot_dir.clone();
 
     Ok(mapped)
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/capabilities.rs b/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/capabilities.rs
index e0220ea..fc056e4 100644
--- a/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/capabilities.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/capabilities.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ pub struct StartNodeOptions<E: Application> {
         Option<Arc<dyn Fn(E::NodeConfig) -> Result<E::NodeConfig, DynError> + Send + Sync>>,
     /// Optional persistent working directory for this node process.
     pub persist_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
+    /// Optional directory whose contents should seed the node working dir.
+    pub snapshot_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     _phantom: PhantomData<E>,
 }
 
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ impl<E: Application> fmt::Debug for StartNodeOptions<E> {
             .field("config_override", &self.config_override.is_some())
             .field("config_patch", &self.config_patch.is_some())
             .field("persist_dir", &self.persist_dir)
+            .field("snapshot_dir", &self.snapshot_dir)
             .finish()
     }
 }
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ impl<E: Application> Default for StartNodeOptions<E> {
             config_override: None,
             config_patch: None,
             persist_dir: None,
+            snapshot_dir: None,
             _phantom: PhantomData,
         }
     }
@@ -95,6 +99,12 @@ impl<E: Application> StartNodeOptions<E> {
         self.persist_dir = Some(persist_dir);
         self
     }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_snapshot_dir(mut self, snapshot_dir: PathBuf) -> Self {
+        self.snapshot_dir = Some(snapshot_dir);
+        self
+    }
 }
 
 /// Indicates whether a capability requires node control.
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/Cargo.toml b/testing-framework/deployers/local/Cargo.toml
index ce7c833..cbd0b97 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/Cargo.toml
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
 async-trait            = "0.1"
+fs_extra               = "1.3"
 tempfile               = { workspace = true }
 testing-framework-core = { path = "../../core" }
 thiserror              = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/env.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/env.rs
index 2af7d06..602c661 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/env.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/env.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ where
         peer_ports: &[u16],
     ) -> Result<BuiltNodeConfig<<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>, DynError>;
 
+    fn build_node_config_from_template(
+        topology: &Self::Deployment,
+        index: usize,
+        peer_ports_by_name: &HashMap<String, u16>,
+        options: &StartNodeOptions<Self>,
+        peer_ports: &[u16],
+        _template_config: Option<&<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>,
+    ) -> Result<BuiltNodeConfig<<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>, DynError> {
+        Self::build_node_config(topology, index, peer_ports_by_name, options, peer_ports)
+    }
+
     fn build_initial_node_configs(
         topology: &Self::Deployment,
     ) -> Result<Vec<NodeConfigEntry<<Self as Application>::NodeConfig>>, ProcessSpawnError>;
@@ -47,6 +58,14 @@ where
         None
     }
 
+    fn initial_snapshot_dir(
+        _topology: &Self::Deployment,
+        _node_name: &str,
+        _index: usize,
+    ) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+        None
+    }
+
     fn build_launch_spec(
         config: &<Self as Application>::NodeConfig,
         dir: &Path,
@@ -90,6 +109,7 @@ pub async fn spawn_node_from_config<E: LocalDeployerEnv>(
     config: <E as Application>::NodeConfig,
     keep_tempdir: bool,
     persist_dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
+    snapshot_dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
 ) -> Result<Node<E>, ProcessSpawnError> {
     ProcessNode::spawn(
         &label,
@@ -98,6 +118,7 @@ pub async fn spawn_node_from_config<E: LocalDeployerEnv>(
         E::node_endpoints,
         keep_tempdir,
         persist_dir,
+        snapshot_dir,
         E::node_client,
     )
     .await
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
index dc31d5f..324878a 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@ mod state;
 use state::LocalNodeManagerState;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
-struct NodeStartSnapshot {
+struct NodeStartSnapshot<Config> {
     peer_ports: Vec<u16>,
     peer_ports_by_name: HashMap<String, u16>,
     node_name: String,
     index: usize,
+    template_config: Option<Config>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
@@ -83,12 +84,14 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
 
         for (index, config_entry) in configs.into_iter().enumerate() {
             let persist_dir = E::initial_persist_dir(descriptors, &config_entry.name, index);
+            let snapshot_dir = E::initial_snapshot_dir(descriptors, &config_entry.name, index);
             spawned.push(
                 spawn_node_from_config::<E>(
                     config_entry.name,
                     config_entry.config,
                     keep_tempdir,
                     persist_dir.as_deref(),
+                    snapshot_dir.as_deref(),
                 )
                 .await?,
             );
@@ -113,6 +116,7 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
             clients_by_name: HashMap::new(),
             indices_by_name: HashMap::new(),
             nodes: Vec::new(),
+            template_config: None,
         };
 
         Self {
@@ -146,6 +150,9 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
 
     pub fn stop_all(&self) {
         let mut state = self.lock_state();
+        for node in &mut state.nodes {
+            node.start_kill();
+        }
 
         state.nodes.clear();
         state.peer_ports.clone_from(&self.seed.peer_ports);
@@ -155,6 +162,7 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
         state.clients_by_name.clear();
         state.indices_by_name.clear();
         state.node_count = self.seed.node_count;
+        state.template_config = None;
         self.node_clients.clear();
     }
 
@@ -228,12 +236,13 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
     ) -> Result<StartedNode<E>, NodeManagerError> {
         let snapshot = self.start_snapshot(name)?;
 
-        let mut built = E::build_node_config(
+        let mut built = E::build_node_config_from_template(
             &self.descriptors,
             snapshot.index,
             &snapshot.peer_ports_by_name,
             &options,
             &snapshot.peer_ports,
+            snapshot.template_config.as_ref(),
         )
         .map_err(|source| NodeManagerError::Config { source })?;
 
@@ -250,6 +259,7 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
                 built.network_port,
                 built.config,
                 options.persist_dir.as_deref(),
+                options.snapshot_dir.as_deref(),
             )
             .await?;
 
@@ -290,12 +300,14 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
         network_port: u16,
         config: <E as Application>::NodeConfig,
         persist_dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
+        snapshot_dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
     ) -> Result<E::NodeClient, NodeManagerError> {
         let node = spawn_node_from_config::<E>(
             node_name.to_string(),
             config,
             self.keep_tempdir,
             persist_dir,
+            snapshot_dir,
         )
         .await
         .map_err(|source| NodeManagerError::Spawn {
@@ -306,6 +318,9 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
         self.node_clients.add_node(client.clone());
 
         let mut state = self.lock_state();
+        if state.template_config.is_none() && snapshot_dir.is_some() {
+            state.template_config = Some(node.config().clone());
+        }
 
         state.register_node(node_name, network_port, client.clone(), node);
 
@@ -322,7 +337,10 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
         reinsert_node_at(&mut state, index, node);
     }
 
-    fn start_snapshot(&self, requested_name: &str) -> Result<NodeStartSnapshot, NodeManagerError> {
+    fn start_snapshot(
+        &self,
+        requested_name: &str,
+    ) -> Result<NodeStartSnapshot<E::NodeConfig>, NodeManagerError> {
         let state = self.lock_state();
         let index = state.node_count;
         let node_name = validate_new_node_name::<E>(state.node_count, &state, requested_name)?;
@@ -332,6 +350,7 @@ impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> NodeManager<E> {
             peer_ports_by_name: state.peer_ports_by_name.clone(),
             node_name,
             index,
+            template_config: state.template_config.clone(),
         })
     }
 
@@ -349,6 +368,7 @@ fn clear_registered_nodes<E: LocalDeployerEnv>(state: &mut LocalNodeManagerState
     state.clients_by_name.clear();
     state.indices_by_name.clear();
     state.node_count = 0;
+    state.template_config = None;
 }
 
 fn validate_new_node_name<E: LocalDeployerEnv>(
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
index d3dd1c3..59e3f1e 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub(crate) struct LocalNodeManagerState<E: LocalDeployerEnv> {
     pub(crate) clients_by_name: HashMap<String, E::NodeClient>,
     pub(crate) indices_by_name: HashMap<String, usize>,
     pub(crate) nodes: Vec<Node<E>>,
+    pub(crate) template_config: Option<E::NodeConfig>,
 }
 
 impl<E: LocalDeployerEnv> LocalNodeManagerState<E> {
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/process.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/process.rs
index 12bb91c..9e3df42 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/process.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/process.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use std::{
     time::Duration,
 };
 
+use fs_extra::dir::{CopyOptions, copy as copy_dir};
 use tempfile::TempDir;
 use testing_framework_core::{env::Application, process::RuntimeNode, scenario::DynError};
 use tokio::{
@@ -112,6 +113,11 @@ pub enum ProcessSpawnError {
         #[source]
         source: io::Error,
     },
+    #[error("failed to copy snapshot directory: {source}")]
+    Snapshot {
+        #[source]
+        source: io::Error,
+    },
     #[error("process wait failed: {source}")]
     Wait {
         #[source]
@@ -192,9 +198,14 @@ impl<Config: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static, Client: Clone + Send + Sync + 'stati
         endpoints_from_config: impl FnOnce(&Config) -> NodeEndpoints,
         keep_tempdir: bool,
         persist_dir: Option<&Path>,
+        snapshot_dir: Option<&Path>,
         client_from_endpoints: impl FnOnce(&NodeEndpoints) -> Client,
     ) -> Result<Self, ProcessSpawnError> {
         let tempdir = create_tempdir(persist_dir)?;
+        if let Some(snapshot_dir) = snapshot_dir {
+            copy_snapshot_dir(snapshot_dir, tempdir.path())
+                .map_err(|source| ProcessSpawnError::Snapshot { source })?;
+        }
 
         let launch = build_launch_spec(&config, tempdir.path(), label)
             .map_err(|source| ProcessSpawnError::Config { source })?;
@@ -328,6 +339,16 @@ fn write_launch_file(base: &Path, file: &LaunchFile) -> io::Result<()> {
     fs::write(path, &file.contents)
 }
 
+fn copy_snapshot_dir(from: &Path, to: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let mut options = CopyOptions::new();
+    options.copy_inside = true;
+    options.overwrite = true;
+
+    copy_dir(from, to, &options)
+        .map(|_| ())
+        .map_err(io::Error::other)
+}
+
 fn default_api_socket() -> SocketAddr {
     SocketAddr::from((Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST, 0))
 }