-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Gr688yReqz87nHp5A9s0BXDTUPXqTWX03woiFzqUG4Bg6ttriNaPALX9nk5FwsNb
 B2FsHlMY/YsUxrpXMOH7Aw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001247770-04-000001.txt : 20040308
<SEC-HEADER>0001247770-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040308141736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001247770-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040308
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ERNST JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247770

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24976
		FILM NUMBER:		04654419

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CROWN PACIFIC
		STREET 2:		805 S W BROADWAY STE 1500
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97205
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032742300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROWN PACIFIC PARTNERS L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000930735
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAWMILLS, PLANNING MILLS, GENERAL [2421]
		IRS NUMBER:				931161833
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 S W MORRISON ST STE 1500
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032742300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 SW MORRISON ST
		STREET 2:		STE 1500
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97204
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000930735</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN PACIFIC PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>crpp</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERNST JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>805 S.W. BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97205</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Manufacturing &amp; Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>978.677</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John S. Ernst</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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