Gnaphosa borea is a ground spider species with Holarctic distribution. It is found in boreal forests in Russia (Tuva, South Siberia), in the United States (Toolik Lake, Alaska, Mount Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Maine) and in Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon). This species appears to be dependent on some of the conditions associated with wildfires as it is absent or rarely collected in harvest-origin stands.