The plant is endemic to Trinity County, California, where it is known from fewer than 10 occurrences in the Trinity Alps, of the Klamath Mountains.

It grows in exposed rocky outcrops and barren talus in the high mountains.

Penstemon tracyi is a squat perennial herb growing no more than 12 centimeters tall.

The hairless oval to rounded leaves are 1 to 2 centimeters long.

The inflorescence bears dense clusters of tubular pink flowers each about a centimeter long.