It is endemic to northwest Santa Cruz County, where it is known only from four populations on Ben Lomond Mountain, just south of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

[2] Arctostaphylos ohloneana occurs in maritime chaparral and oak and pine forest habitat on whitish soils of siliceous shale origin.

[2] Arctostaphylos ohloneana is an erect, bushy shrub reaching one or two meters in height.

The branches are covered in reddish-brown bark and the newer twigs have fuzzy hairs.

The light green leaves have oval blades up to 3 centimeters long by 1.5 wide.