Carlsbad Caverns with my 71 year old
 

mom...She walks very slow....is there too much walking to do to really see the caverns?

AHmm. Tough question to answer. I am 71 now and need a hip replacment, but I was able to get around the big room 18 months ago. You might call the park itself and ask about the availabiity of a wheel chair and the accessability of trails in the cave.

I know this much, do NOT go in the natural entrance with her. It is a steep downhill walk that puts considerable stress on the knees.

You can take the elevator down to the lunch room area which is just off of the Big Room itself. The walk through the area is on a relatively flat trail, but there are some ups and downs.

Even if the whole loop is not possible, I think she could at least take a look at some of it.

In your position I would call park headquarters and ask.

Here is a clip from the NPS web site for Carlsbad.

The visitor center and a large section of the self-guided Big Room tour are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. An outdoor nature trail, the bat flight amphitheater, and picnic sites near the visitor center and at Rattlesnake Springs are also fully-accessible. NOTE: The park does not provide wheelchairs, you must bring your own.

Thanks,brookwood,for the info.I guess I'll rent a wchr for her.I think we will visit in April or May.

The earlier the better for crowds.
The temperature in the cave is a constant figure. As I recall it is about 56 degrees. A seated person would want a jacket. And I took a flashlight. I did not need it except on the Left Hand Tunnel tour, but I wasn't pushing a wheel chair.