A suite of large-scale silvicultural experiments has been established to develop and assess operational silviculture options for the Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco var. menziesii) forests.This paper summarizes three such studies that focus on three major stages in the life of managed stands – early development, midrotation, and regeneration harvest. Development of silvicultural treatments that are needed to restore and maintain Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook.) within mixed-species stands in western Oregon and Washington are also presented. In addition to responses of overstory trees and understory plants to silvicultural treatments, several other aspects, such as coarse woody debris retention, residual stand damage, soil disturbance, economics, and public acceptance of treatments, are also being investigated in one or more of the studies. Advantages, special considerations, and challenges of conducting large-scale, operational silviculture research studies are discussed.