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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GCeaYSx+AD7xtE1LCe/XMk+aYOe3L9en89Nq55duvnhuTJBT0wFzKYU4lmu7BITO
 /7QoLQ/VD8Akk1UZ+4wcew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001180480-03-000001.txt : 20031208
<SEC-HEADER>0001180480-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031208144737
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001180480-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031208

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:			CARTER TERRY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180480

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05313
		FILM NUMBER:		031042370

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W RIVERSIDE AVE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5098351512

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 W RIVERSIDE AVE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
</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>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000079716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POTLATCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARTER TERRY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 W. RIVERSIDE AVENUE, SUITE 1100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.18</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1300</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><
value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option becomes exercisable in two equal annual installments on December 4, 2004 and 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The option has no purchase or sale price, therefore Column 8 has been left blank.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Malcolm A. Ryerse, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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