Biomass of available elk (Cervus elaphus) forages was monitored throughout a winter cycle in an age sequence of 1-200+ yr-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)-western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) forests in the Cascade Mountains. Additionally, fecal pellets of elk were collected from old-growth and 1-35 yr-old regenerating forests, from which we estimated plant species composition, dry matter digestibility and crude protein content of the diets. We tested hypotheses that plant species composition of feces and nutritional indices of diets did not differ between those endpoints of the forest successional continuum. Trends in available forages following clear-cut logging were related to standage, topographic landform, season and snow accumulation. Elk feces contained mainly deciduous shrubs and herbaceous forages during November, conifers and evergreen shrubs during midwinter when snow largely covered herbaceous forages, and herbaceous forages during early spring regrowth. Elk feces from 1-35 yr-old regenerating forests contained more herbaceous forage overall during winter than did feces from elk in old growth (P ≤ 0.02). Consequently, we observed greater indices of dietary crude protein and dry-matter digestibility during winter in a 1-35 yr-old than in an old-growth forest ecosystem (P ≤ 0.05). Implications for elk populations and forest management are discussed.