Some tips to make July 4 a cool one

When making plans for the Fourth of July weekend, it may pay to think "cool."

Daytime temperatures are expected to top 100 in the southern reaches of the state and stay in the low 90s to the north.

These are ideal temperatures for activities like water sports, camping and hiking in the high country or simply taking a drive in a nice, air-conditioned vehicle.

So what can travelers expect?

Camping: Expect the more popular camping areas, especially those close to cities and towns, to be full. Those camping spots open on a first-come, first-served basis will probably be gone by early Friday.

Utah has five national parks, along with seven national monuments, two national recreation areas and one historic site. Along with that, it has more than 40 state parks.

Add all this along with the protected forests and Bureau of Land Management lands, and nearly 80 percent of the state is publicly owned and falls under federal or state control. Which, of course, means there's plenty of room to play.

The two most popular sites are Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

To check on what camping areas might be open in the state's parks, call 1-800-322-3770. National parks will need to be contacted individually.

Fishing: There are both advantages and disadvantages to fishing at this time of the year. Being warmer, it takes more effort to catch fish. On the other side, there are more fish (this is the peak of the planting season) and conditions are more pleasant.

For lakes and reservoirs, timing is everything for summertime success.

With warmer water temperatures, fish move into the shallows mornings and evenings, then back into deeper waters in the afternoons. Best fishing, then, is mornings and evenings when the fish are in and feeding and within casting range.

Streams and rivers have returned to normal, which means fishermen need to use strategy along with the right lures and baits.

Wildlife: This is an excellent time of the year to see some of Utah's larger big game animals up close and personal. Early morning and late evening drives are usually the best time to see wildlife. Available through the Utah Travel Council bookstore across from the state Capitol and DWR bookstore, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City, is a 92-page book titled "Utah Wildlife Viewing Guide," which can pinpoint good viewing spots.