Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Organization On September 18, 2013, Wells Timberland REIT, Inc. changed its name to CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. ("CatchMark Timber Trust"). CatchMark Timber Trust primarily engages in the ownership, management, acquisition, and disposition of timberlands located in the southeastern United States and has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes. CatchMark Timber Trust was incorporated in Maryland in 2005 and commenced operations in 2007. CatchMark Timber Trust conducts substantially all of its business through CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P. (“CatchMark Timber OP”), a Delaware limited partnership formerly known as Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P. CatchMark Timber Trust is the general partner of CatchMark Timber OP, possesses full legal control and authority over its operations, and owns 99.99% of its common partnership units. CatchMark LP Holder, LLC (“CatchMark LP Holder”), a recently formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of CatchMark Timber Trust is the sole limited partner of CatchMark Timber OP (see Note 7 – Noncontrolling Interest for more information). In addition, CatchMark Timber TRS, Inc. (“CatchMark TRS”), a Delaware corporation formerly known as Wells Timberland TRS, Inc., was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of CatchMark Timber OP on January 1, 2006. Unless otherwise noted, references herein to CatchMark Timber Trust shall include CatchMark Timber Trust and all of its subsidiaries, including CatchMark Timber OP, and the subsidiaries of CatchMark Timber OP, including CatchMark TRS. CatchMark Timber Trust previously operated as an externally advised REIT pursuant to an advisory agreement, as amended and restated (the "Advisory Agreement"), under which Wells Timberland Management Organization, LLC (“Wells TIMO”), a subsidiary of Wells Real Estate Funds, Inc. (“Wells REF”), performed certain key functions on behalf of CatchMark Timber Trust, including, among others, managing the day-to-day operations, investing capital proceeds and arranging financing. On September 18, 2013, CatchMark Timber Trust and CatchMark Timber OP entered into a Master Self-Management Transition Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), along with a series of other agreements and transactions, with Wells REF and Wells TIMO (together with their respective affiliates, “Wells”), pursuant to which CatchMark Timber Trust began its transition to a self-managed company. On October 24, 2013, the Master Agreement was amended (the "Master Agreement Amendment") to advance the date of the transition to October 25, 2013 (the "Self-Management Transition Date"), and CatchMark Timber Trust completed its transition to self-management on that date. For additional details about the related agreements, please refer to Note 12 – Related Party Transactions and Agreements.

Organization

On September 18, 2013, Wells Timberland REIT, Inc. changed its name to CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. ("CatchMark Timber Trust"). CatchMark Timber Trust primarily engages in the ownership, management, acquisition, and disposition of timberlands located in the southeastern United States and has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes. CatchMark Timber Trust was incorporated in Maryland in 2005 and commenced operations in 2007. CatchMark Timber Trust conducts substantially all of its business through CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P. (“CatchMark Timber OP”), a Delaware limited partnership formerly known as Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P. CatchMark Timber Trust is the general partner of CatchMark Timber OP, possesses full legal control and authority over its operations, and owns 99.99% of its common partnership units. CatchMark LP Holder, LLC (“CatchMark LP Holder”), a recently formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of CatchMark Timber Trust is the sole limited partner of CatchMark Timber OP (see Note 7 – Noncontrolling Interest for more information). In addition, CatchMark Timber TRS, Inc. (“CatchMark TRS”), a Delaware corporation formerly known as Wells Timberland TRS, Inc., was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of CatchMark Timber OP on January 1, 2006. Unless otherwise noted, references herein to CatchMark Timber Trust shall include CatchMark Timber Trust and all of its subsidiaries, including CatchMark Timber OP, and the subsidiaries of CatchMark Timber OP, including CatchMark TRS.

CatchMark Timber Trust previously operated as an externally advised REIT pursuant to an advisory agreement, as amended and restated (the "Advisory Agreement"), under which Wells Timberland Management Organization, LLC (“Wells TIMO”), a subsidiary of Wells Real Estate Funds, Inc. (“Wells REF”), performed certain key functions on behalf of CatchMark Timber Trust, including, among others, managing the day-to-day operations, investing capital proceeds and arranging financing. On September 18, 2013, CatchMark Timber Trust and CatchMark Timber OP entered into a Master Self-Management Transition Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), along with a series of other agreements and transactions, with Wells REF and Wells TIMO (together with their respective affiliates, “Wells”), pursuant to which CatchMark Timber Trust began its transition to a self-managed company. On October 24, 2013, the Master Agreement was amended (the "Master Agreement Amendment") to advance the date of the transition to October 25, 2013 (the "Self-Management Transition Date"), and CatchMark Timber Trust completed its transition to self-management on that date. For additional details about the related agreements, please refer to Note 12 – Related Party Transactions and Agreements.