[3] It is native to western Canada (Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta) and the western United States as far south as Inyo County, California and McKinley County, New Mexico.

[4] Arnica parryi is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a single unbranched stem to heights between 10 and 60 centimeters.

The petioles, leaves, and flower stems and bracts are sparsely to densely coated with short white hairs.

[5] The inflorescence holds one to several daisylike flower heads, which nod as buds and then pull erect when the face opens.

The fruit is a cylindrical achene about half a centimeter long with a bristly tan to brown pappus.