Its habitat ranges from low gorges to the highest mountaintops in the Great Smoky Mountains (Petranka 1998). The species often is abundant on wet rock faces. At lower elevations and in winter, this salamander usually concentrates near seepage areas, springs and small streams; it may range into adjacent wooded areas in wet weather. It is more terrestrial at higher elevations and is a characteristic inhabitant of the floor of spruce-fir forests. Individuals frequently climb plants on rainy nights (Petranka 1998). Adults and juveniles congregate in seepages and underground retreats in winter (Shealy 1975). Eggs are laid in wet rock crevices or under rocks, logs or moss in seepage areas or near small streams, usually at or slightly above the water surface (Pope 1924, Martof and Rose 1963, Forester 1977, Bruce 1990, Petranka 1998). The larvae develop in water. It is unclear as to whether or not it is tolerant of habitat disturbance.

This species can be found in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee in the United States of America. There are two allopatric units: one in the Appalachian Plateau of northeastern Alabama, and the other southwestern Blue Ridge Physiographic Province south of the Pigeon River. The latter one includes the Balsam, Blue Ridge, Cowee, Great Smoky, Nanatahala, Snowbird, Tusquitee and Unicoi mountains and low-elevation subpopulations in the gorges of the Hiwassee, Ocoee and Tugaloo rivers. At least some of the subpopulations in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee might represent this species (Tilley and Mahoney 1996).

This species is present in several protected areas throughout its range.