The one to six protruding to spreading, sometimes criss-crossing central spines are slightly pink or orange and turn brown or even white.

The six to ten round, yellowish to whitish marginal spines are 1 to 3.5 cm (0.39 to 1.38 in) long.

The broadly funnel-shaped flowers are slightly pink-magenta in color and have a white or very light throat.

[2] Accepted subspecies:[3] Echinocereus cinerascens is distributed in Mexico in the Federal District and the states of México, Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí.

[4] The specific epithet cinerascens comes from Latin, means 'turning ashen' and refers to the thorns of the species.