Removal of subalpine forest canopy increases snow accumulation, shallow subsurface flow and nutrient export from high-elevation watersheds. In the central Colorado Rockies, augmented streamflow and subsurface nitrogen (N) export continue for at least 50 and 20 years, respectively, following clear cutting. Few studies have measured the long-term effects of forest harvesting on the biogeochemical processes responsible for watershed-scale N dynamics. This study quantifies soil N pools, turnover and release from two catchments where harvesting was conducted in the mid 1950s and early1980s as part of paired watershed research at the Fraser Experimental Forest. Snowmelt nitrate movement was higher in both young and old recovering clear cuts compared to uncut stands. In the 25-year-old cuts, nitrate represented a larger portion of the total resin exchangeable N compared to 50-year-old cuts (30 vs. 20%) and uncut stands (10%). Similarly, net nitrification measured in 1980s clear cuts was significantly higher than both uncut forest and the older harvest areas. In contrast, resin-exchangeable ammonium was lower in recovering harvest areas and the reduction was greatest in the more recent cuts. After 50 years, forest floor N content was equal between cut and adjacent uncut stands, but the mineral soil total N pool remained significantly lower. Our findings indicate that in high-elevation forests, the soil processes that control nitrate dynamics remain significantly altered 25 years after harvesting and like other ecosystem properties may require a half century to recover from canopy removal.