Hey all, I'll be heading to Yellowstone in a few days and will be coming in through Cook City and heading to Old Faithful, and cool locations along the way?

Matt, the lower falls is a drive to S of the road you will be coming in on. I would go there then rather than backtracking from OF (which I think is kind of ehhh) You do not need to get there early. The rainbow will appear for about 3 minutes at around (guessing) 8 or 9 am this time of year. Check for time from a ranger. You should see plenty of game on your way to the falls and again from there to OF where I assume you are booked for a room. Have fun its a great place and be sure to leave time for the Tetons which are not far from OF.
Croce

Cooke City was the perfect place for us to start our trip last June. The Super 8 Motel turned out to be the best location; new and large, free continental breakfast. See the live cams for Cooke City on google. Ask the locals for recent action.
The Lamar Valley is just inside the park from Cooke City. We based at the Super 8 for four nights.

Lots of wolves, elk, antelope and moose and the occasional griz but usually at long range.

Hint. there is no cell phone service in Cooke City BUT you should get it (Verizon) in Lamar Valley at the Slough Creek turn off and at Tower Junction just a bit further.

We found Canyon Lodge and cabins (the new duplexes) to be the best of the lodges and most centrally located.

To catch the rainbow at the lower falls ask someone or find the timing on the internet. My best shots were just after 10AM in mid June.

Thanks for the help so far, I will be camping one night.

Try this map for the Lamar area. Slough Creek CG is popular with photographers
http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/yellowstone_map_pics/ynp_lamar_valley_map.htm

Yellowstone, Grand prismatic climb the hill on the back side. From the parking lot looking at Grand prismatic you'll need to go the the small parking area to your left about 1/4 mile and just walk the trail about 1/2 mile then climb, if you don't you'll miss it. It's a must see

It's really funny I just stumbled upon this thread. I, too, am going to Yellowstone this week. I'm making the ridiculously long trek from Arkansas! 17 hours!! WOO HOO!

I'm visiting a friend in Casper then I'll make it up to Yellowstone, and I'm actually staying in Cooke City for one night at the Super 8. I usually stay in West Yellowstone at the Grizzly RV park, but it seems that nearly everything around Yellowstone is booked up this week (I guess 4th of July insanity).

Hopefully we can wake up early enough to get some good shots.

Well if nothing else, I can sleep in my car, I pulled out the back seat so I could get more gear in.

I will assume that you are experienced yet it never hurts to cover all of the bases. You do know the rules for camping in bear (especially grizz) country; Never have any food anywhere near where you are sleeping.
Again, Slough Creek campground is right in the middle of the action and, seemed to have a lot of open spaces in mid June last year. Lots of bears, wolves, elk, bison, photographers.... etc. And cell phone service if you need it.

I will jealously await your posts.

I'll be arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs (staying at the Best Western) this afternoon, for a 4 night stay ... we should have a meet up somewhere

I'm already back

Stayed at Mammouth and camped out there, the lightning was incredible. I'll write more later after I'm recovered from the 12 hour drive home that we started around 4PM.

Here's shot number one, what do you guys think?

I just got back from Yellowstone earlier this week and stayed at the Grizzley RV park in West Yellowstone. I was not impressed with Old Faithful myself, but it was on the list to see. The only problem I had was everywhere we went, we went at the wrong time of day. We hit the old barn at like 2pm. Here's my favorite pic of the trip though.

Neat shot there, looks very nice. I took the above shot at sunrise but I didn't get my light