Segment Reporting Disclosure (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 15,208	$ 13,755	$ 56,020	$ 70,117
Cost of sales	(9,746)	(9,125)	(33,058)	(39,426)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(5,232)	(4,627)	(14,479)	(13,303)
Gain (loss) on sale of timberland	(1,103)	9,188	(1,103)	9,188
Income (loss) from operations	(873)	9,191	7,380	26,576
Fee Timber
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	11,316	12,383	36,534	51,987
Cost of sales	(6,351)	(8,044)	(21,791)	(29,483)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(2,536)	(2,257)	(5,866)	(6,152)
Gain (loss) on sale of timberland	(1,103)	9,188	(1,103)	9,188
Income (loss) from operations	1,326	11,270	7,774	25,540
Fee Timber | Pope Resources
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	6,406	6,062	19,967	25,929
Cost of sales	(2,463)	(3,112)	(8,371)	(11,266)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,678)	(1,400)	(3,979)	(3,930)
Income (loss) from operations	2,265	1,550	7,617	10,733
Fee Timber | ORM Timber Funds
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	4,910	6,321	16,567	26,058
Cost of sales	(3,888)	(4,932)	(13,420)	(18,217)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(858)	(857)	(1,887)	(2,222)
Gain (loss) on sale of timberland	(1,103)	9,188	(1,103)	9,188
Income (loss) from operations	(939)	9,720	157	14,807
Timberland Management
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(494)	(541)	(2,008)	(1,661)
Income (loss) from operations	(494)	(541)	(2,008)	(1,661)
Real Estate
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	3,892	1,372	19,486	18,130
Cost of sales	(3,395)	(1,081)	(11,267)	(9,943)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,000)	(888)	(3,015)	(2,777)
Income (loss) from operations	(503)	(597)	5,204	5,410
Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,202)	(941)	(3,590)	(2,713)
Income (loss) from operations	(1,202)	(941)	(3,590)	(2,713)
Internal
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	16,126	14,753	58,752	73,204
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(6,150)	(5,625)	(17,211)	(16,390)
Income (loss) from operations	(873)	9,191	7,380	26,576
Internal | Fee Timber
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	11,416	12,537	36,780	52,456
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(3,315)	(3,071)	(8,246)	(8,681)
Income (loss) from operations	647	10,610	5,640	23,480
Internal | Fee Timber | Pope Resources
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	6,506	6,216	20,213	26,398
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,678)	(1,400)	(3,979)	(3,930)
Income (loss) from operations	2,365	1,704	7,863	11,202
Internal | Fee Timber | ORM Timber Funds
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	4,910	6,321	16,567	26,058
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,637)	(1,671)	(4,267)	(4,751)
Income (loss) from operations	(1,718)	8,906	(2,223)	12,278
Internal | Timberland Management
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	779	814	2,380	2,529
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(594)	(695)	(2,254)	(2,130)
Income (loss) from operations	185	119	126	399
Internal | Real Estate
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	3,931	1,402	19,592	18,219
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,005)	(888)	(3,029)	(2,777)
Income (loss) from operations	(469)	(567)	5,296	5,499
Internal | Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating, general and administrative expenses	(1,236)	(971)	(3,682)	(2,802)
Income (loss) from operations	(1,236)	(971)	(3,682)	(2,802)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	(918)	(998)	(2,732)	(3,087)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	918	998	2,732	3,087
Income (loss) from operations			0
Eliminations | Fee Timber
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	(100)	(154)	(246)	(469)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	779	814	2,380	2,529
Income (loss) from operations	679	660	2,134	2,060
Eliminations | Fee Timber | Pope Resources
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	(100)	(154)	(246)	(469)
Operating, general and administrative expenses		0		0
Income (loss) from operations	(100)	(154)	(246)	(469)
Eliminations | Fee Timber | ORM Timber Funds
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating, general and administrative expenses	779	814	2,380	2,529
Income (loss) from operations	779	814	2,380	2,529
Eliminations | Timberland Management
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	(779)	(814)	(2,380)	(2,529)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	100	154	246	469
Income (loss) from operations	(679)	(660)	(2,134)	(2,060)
Eliminations | Real Estate
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Revenue	(39)	(30)	(106)	(89)
Operating, general and administrative expenses	5	0	14	0
Income (loss) from operations	(34)	(30)	(92)	(89)
Eliminations | Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating, general and administrative expenses	34	30	92	89
Income (loss) from operations	$ 34	$ 30	$ 92	$ 89