Foothills Arnica is an upright perennial to about 50 cm in height. The stems are solitary. It generally has two to three pairs of opposite leaves, which are narrow and long, mostly three to ten times as long as wide. The basal leaves measure 3-12 cm long and 1-4 cm wide and have prominent parallel venation with 3-5 veins (See photo at bottom of page.). The leaves are reduced in size upwards on the stem, and the basal leaves of Arnica fulgens are similar, but has conspicuous tufts of brown, woolly axillary hairs compared to the white or non-existent axillary hairs of Arnica sororia.

The flower heads are sunflower-like, with both ray and disk flowers. The ray and disc flowers are both yellow. There are typically 13 ray flowers, although they can range from 8-23. Individual rays measure 1.5-2.5 cm long. The involucral bracts are broadest at the base, tapering gradually to an acute tip.

Foothills Arnica is found in dry, open places in the foothills and high plains to moderate altitude in the mountains.

Foothills arnica is found from British Colombia and Alberta south to Wyoming, Utah, and California.