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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q1Zjna1rrusNoZpU9DGGYRZSOMIdNiWthsghu9uaHVhMrgUuRLLqdvvCI/ZxJopZ
 BYfgPJlE0cSFlCiaCfkIIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001056916-04-000001.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001056916-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102191127
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001056916-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POTLATCH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000079716
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPER MILLS [2621]
		IRS NUMBER:				820156045
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W RIVERSIDE AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 1100
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5098351500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W RIVERSIDE AVE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	POTLATCH FORESTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEYERHAEUSER WILLIAM T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056916

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05313
		FILM NUMBER:		04501816

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1278
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2532728336

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1278
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000079716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POTLATCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001056916</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEYERHAEUSER WILLIAM T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>W. 601 RIVERSIDE AVENUE, SUITE 1100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.77</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>148.602</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.77</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2008-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-31</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSe
curityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3148.602</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16732.358</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units are credited to the reporting person's Deferred Compensation Account and converted to cash and paid on a 1-for-1 basis with the issuer's common stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units will be converted to cash and paid on a date previously elected by the reporting person in accordance with the provisions of the Potlatch Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Phantom stock units will be converted
 to cash and paid on a date previously elected by the reporting person in accordance with the provisions of the Potlatch Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Phantom stock unit beneficial ownership total includes stock allocated to the reporting person's Deferred Compensation Account since the reporting person's last report. Phantom stock allocations included in this report include quarterly dividends and meeting attendance fees ranging from $31.26 to $34.77 per share.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Malcolm A. Ryerse, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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