Certain Balance Sheet Components (Schedule of Timber and Timberlands) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Timber And Timberlands [Abstract]
Timber and timberlands	$ 1,605,564	$ 581,648
Logging roads	78,485	72,828
Total timber and timberlands, net	$ 1,684,049	$ 654,476

Amount after accumulated depreciation and depletion of forest crops and land devoted primarily to the growth and harvest of forest crops for commercial purposes.

No definition available.

Name:	pch_TimberAndTimberlandsNet
Namespace Prefix:	pch_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant