<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                              Richard A. Clarke
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                               Boh A. Dickey
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                              Jerome C. Knoll
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                              Vivian W. Piasecki
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                              Gregory L. Quesnel
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                                 Toni Rembe
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                                Judith M. Runstad
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                            Frederick T. Weyerhaeuser
                                 (DIRECTOR)

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned, appoint Malcolm A. Ryerse or, in his absence or
  inability to act, L. Pendleton Siegel or Richard L. Paulson, my
  attorney-in-fact for me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me on
  my behalf in my capacity as a Director of Potlatch Corporation, the Annual
  Report on Form 10-K of Potlatch Corporation for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 2001, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
  thereto, hereby ratifying, approving and confirming all that any such
  attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of March 1,
  2002.

                            William T. Weyerhaeuser
                                 (DIRECTOR)