Narrowleaf goldenweed is a perennial subshrub to 10 cm high. It tends to form a loose mat of leaves and flowers with the leaves clustered on short erect stems. The leaves are linear, erect and entire and persist for up to three years. They may be up to 2 cm long and less than 2 mm wide. The leaves of the flower stems are much reduced in size. The herbage is rough and glandular.

The numerous flowering stems are topped by single flower heads. The involucres are 5-9 mm tall with subequal bracts. The bracts are linear in shape, green, and glandular. There are 8 to 12 ray flowers and about as many disk flowers. Individual rays measure from 7-11 mm long.

Narrowleaf goldenweed may be found on dry, open, rocky outcrops in the plains, foothills and lowlands up to moderate elevations in the mountains.

Narrowleaf goldenweed is found east of the Cascade Mountains in central Washington. It is rarely found south to northern California and Nevada, and occasionally east to central Idaho.