It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the southern High Sierra, particularly around Mineral King in Sequoia National Forest.

Phacelia orogenes is a small annual growing up to 10 centimeters tall with a hairy, glandular stem.

The linear or lance-shaped leaves are up to 3 centimeters long.

The inflorescence is a cyme of bell-shaped flowers each about half a centimeter long.

They are purple with whitish tubular throats.