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Dulce, New Mexico
Dulce is a community of 3,218 people in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Why visit Dulce
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 4 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Dulce Rock / Loosi Hïk'âî, Radio Hill and Jicarilla Apache Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 10°F, and about 56 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Dulce
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dulce
is a census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Dulce had a population of 2,788. It is almost entirely Native American. It is the largest community and tribal headquarters of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation.
From the Wikipedia article Dulce, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks1
Jicarilla Apache Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
Restaurants and cafes4
Where to stay1
History
Dulce was founded by the Gomez family as a ranching operation. The original name was "Agua Dulce," Spanish for sweet water because of the presence of natural springs that provided good drinking water for the people and their animals. The original homestead was founded in 1877 by Jose Eugenio Gomez. The Jicarilla Apache reservation was established in 1887 when the Apache people were forced into a reservation. The Gomez Ranch is currently kept under Manuel Gomez ownership, though surrounded by reservation land.
The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad constructed its San Juan Extension through Dulce in 1882, and a post office was established in 1892. A sawmill was established here, and a logging railroad running southwest as far as Mills Lake from about 1914, both of which closed around 1930.
From the History section of Dulce, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship2
Saint Anthony Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.9 mi
3760 Sandhill Drive, Dulce
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Map of Dulce
17 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 10°F | 1.5 in | 13.4 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 16°F | 1.4 in | 12.8 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 22°F | 1.1 in | 6.3 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 28°F | 1.2 in | 2.7 in |
| May | 74°F | 34°F | 1.1 in | 0.4 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 41°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 50°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 49°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 41°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 29°F | 1.5 in | 1.0 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 20°F | 1.3 in | 5.7 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 12°F | 1.5 in | 13.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dulce Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Rio Arriba County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-10-26: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2024-06-20: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding (Fire)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-10-06: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-10-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Stevens Field (PGO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 miles away.
- Pagosa Springs 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Chama 23 mi east, about 38 min by car
- Arboles 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Tierra Amarilla 30 mi southeast, about 48 min by car
- Ignacio 37 mi west, about 59 min by car
- Bayfield 38 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Durango 53 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Center Point 53 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Aztec 54 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Bloomfield 56 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dulce Welcome (9358459820), U.S. Department of Agriculture Bob Nichols/Photographer/United States Department of Agriculture-Office of Communications-Photography Services Division, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.