Found under ponderosa pine and live oak in autumn, it was considered a color variant of the similarly edible B. edulis for many years.

[1][2] The cap is 5–25 centimetres (2–10 inches) in diameter, initially convex in shape before flattening, with a smooth or slightly tomentose surface, and gray-white, white or buff color.

[4] In addition to B. edulis,[2] the species could also be confused with the similarly pale-capped B. satanas, though the flesh of the latter stains blue when cut or bruised, and it has a reddish stem and pores.

[2] A 2010 molecular study found that B. barrowsii was sister to a lineage that gave rise to the species B. quercophilus of Costa Rica and B. nobilissimus of eastern North America.

It is abundant in the warmer parts of its range, namely Arizona and New Mexico, but also occurs in Colorado, west into California[1] and north to British Columbia.