On Mount Kinabalu, the species has been recorded from the East Ridge, Mesilau East River, and an area below Kambarangoh. Nepenthes lowii used to have a scattered distribution around the Mount Kinabalu summit trail, occurring in a narrow band between elevations of 1970 and 2270 m above sea level. Many of the N. lowii plants growing along the Kinabalu summit trail died as a result of the El Niño climatic phenomenon of 1997-1998 and others have been destroyed by climbers. It is now difficult to find the species on Mount Kinabalu and its presence along the summit trail is uncertain.