Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Pope Resources' unitholders	$ 615	$ 1,500	$ 8,713	$ 15,587
Net income attributable to unvested restricted unitholders	(27)	(23)	(55)	(168)
Preferred share dividends - ORM Timber Funds	(8)	(8)	(23)	(23)
Net income for calculation of earnings per unit	$ 580	$ 1,469	$ 8,635	$ 15,396
Basic and diluted weighted average units outstanding (units)	4,298	4,350	4,297	4,376
Basic and diluted earnings per unit attributable to unit holders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.13	$ 0.34	$ 2.01	$ 3.52