Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Prepaid Logging Roads and Timber (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Lease capitalized for remaining lease term when greater than 5 years	5 years
Lease payments expensed within 5 years	5 years

Lease Expensed When Payments Are Within Specific Time Period

No definition available.

Name:	ryn_LeaseExpensedWhenPaymentsAreWithinSpecificTimePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ryn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration