Rock polypody is found in mixed and conifer forests. It usually grows in a thin layer of humus over a range of rocky surfaces (glacial erratics, talus blocks, cornices, and cliff ledges). This species can tolerate dry conditions, but it generally prefers acidic soils.
This fern is native to North America. It occurs in temperate regions of the United States, especially in the Appalachians, the Northeast, and the Midwest.
In Canada, Rock polypody is found in several provinces, including Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. In Quebec, it is seen in the Laurentides, Outaouais, Cantons de l’est, Montérégie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and Gaspésie regions.