Calochilus praealtus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single pale green leaf 180–400 mm (7–20 in) long, 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and fully developed at flowering time.

The lateral sepals are a similar length but only about half as wide and spread apart from each other.

[2][3] Calochilus praealtus was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected in Mount Kaputar National Park and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.

[5] Jones gave the species the name Calochilus praeltus, misspelling the Greek word and mentioning that its meaning is "high altitude, elevation; in reference to its occurrence at high altitudes".

[2][3][4] The lofty beard orchid grows with grasses in snow gum woodland.