[5] Located north of the town of Portsmouth, the land of Cabrits National Park is an extinct volcano that was once its own island, separate from mainland Dominica.

[7] The British began building it in 1765, on the order of Governor Thomas Shirley, as a garrison to defend north Dominica.

[21] Two types of vegetation populate the park: dry forest and scrub on the mountains (receiving little precipitation) with deciduous species ; and wetland, made up of marshes and swamps over 35 ha, which is one of the two largest in the Portsmouth area.

A small forest plantation was established in the 1960s,[22] which introduced hibiscus, mahogany, teak, Caribbean pine, and pink poui.

More than 30 herbs and shrubs endemic to Cabrits National Park are recognized as medicinal or used for Dominican crafts.

[23] Cabrits National Park is the last stop on the Waitukubuli Trail which originates in the southern village of Scott's Head.