Neotamias dorsalis ranges across the western and southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its smoky-grey back has dark stripes, and the underside is creamy white.
Dark stripes are clearer on the summer coat than the winter coat. The flanks are light brown, the underside creamy white, and the tail is blackish above and cinnamon below.
It spends much of its time near cliffs, with winter dens in rocky outcrops. In summer it may sleep in cliffs at night and be active farther from its den by day.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.