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The upperside exhibits the typical checkerspot pattern of orange and brown-black, with a checkered orange-red and cream underside. Superficially similar to the Euphydryas checkerspots, but distinguished by the absence of cream-white spots on the upperside. More difficult to separate from the Rockslide Checkerspot (C. damoetas), which has a slightly duller, dingier look to it, with fewer dark markings on the forewing top. Damoetas is found only above treeline in rockslides and boulder fields, Northern Checkerspots rarely wander up this high. D. Macaulay image
It is not clear which subspecies name best applies to Alberta populations (Bird et al. 1995). The Peace River population represents an undescribed subspecies.

No data available for western Canada. The pale green eggs are laid in clusters on the hostplant. Larvae are white-spotted and black, with dorsal and lateral orange dashes and black spines. Partially grown larvae overwinter (Scott 1986)