Tahoe Area Winter Camping

Last year I did a bunch of winter camping (mostly for snowboard stuff but also for Sugarloaf climbing) at Sand Flat Campground near Kyburz. The campground was officially closed but unlocked and we spent many weekends there with no issue. The gate is now closed, I think because of people spending the day there and leaving trash (and literal shit) laying around. We've also stayed at Zephyr Cove RV Campground but its a) expensive, b) doesn't technically allow tents, and c) loud because of RV generators.

Can anyone recommend some winter tent camping areas that don't require a major hike in? I've already checked with the forest service, they didn't have any suggestions. 

Echo Lakes Snow Park. We stayed there after a ski day before heading to Phantom Spires, worked pretty well. Just get a snow parks pass.

https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23070

I did stay at some sno-parks last year but they had posted on their website that you were not allowed to tent camp. It's also a bummer that we can't leave our tents up during the day because there's families/tourists running around. 

I've confirmed that Camp Richardson is closed, Tahoe Valley RV is closed, Sugar Pine is open but First Come First Serve only. That's our top option now. 

I hear vans are pretty warm, and you can park them in a bunch of cool places close to where you ski or climb!

Ryan Never climbs wrote:

down near woodfords are some good spots if you poke around. 

Crystal Springs and Kit Carson? Or something not developed?