Growing above 6,500 feet on the east side of Mount Rainier, this plant is encountered along high elevation trails, such as Burroughs Mountain, or, in this case, the Mount Fremont trail.

The stems are glandular-hairy and very fragile. The leaves are sharply pointed. This sandwort is distinguished from others by the pointed sepals which have three veins.

The flowers typically have five petals, but here a few with seven are found. The capsules are 6-valved. Nuttall's Sandwort is a member of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae). This is variety nuttallii.