The challenge of camping in the snow is not for everyone, and you should be sure you have the proper equipment, skills and knowledge before attempting to do so. Frostbite, snow blindness and avalanches are real dangers; however, with precautions taken and appropriate gear, you can have a great time, get in plenty of healthy exercise and probably have wherever you pitch your tent to yourself.
San Bernardino National Forest
Not far from Big Bear, you will find Holcomb Valley Campground, with 18 sites fit for tents or RVs under the shade of mature Ponderosa pines. At 7,500 feet, this area can get considerable snowfall, but the area is flat with little danger of avalanches. Each site has a table and fire pit with a grill. The only amenities are vault toilets, and the facility has no piped water.
At an elevation of only 4,400 feet, Pinyon Flats Campground near Idyllwild has snow for only part of the winter. The 19 tent or RV sites lay beneath Pinyon pines, juniper bushes and desert plants such as cactus and yucca and have tables and fire rings with grills. Water is available, but the only other amenities are vault toilets.
Stanislaus National Forest
Situated along the South Fork of the Tuolumne River at an elevation of 4,600 feet, Dimond O --- the actual spelling --- has 31 shaded tent/RV sites with tables and grills. Although the river slows to a trickle in wintertime, you can still catch elusive trout in the remaining pools. Vault toilets only; fresh water is available. Located very near Yosemite's north entrance, this is an excellent launch point for day trips into the national park. Firewood is available from the campground host.
Plumas National Forest
The campground in Frenchman Lake Recreation Area has 37 wooded sites suitable for tents or RVs, shaded by towering Jeffrey pines. Vault toilets and piped water are the only amenities, though you can buy firewood at the campground. At an elevation of 5,800 feet, you can expect to camp in plenty of snow between December and March.
Winter Activities
Two of the healthiest outdoor activities available while camping in the snow are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Both require special equipment that can run in the hundreds of dollars initially, but additional costs once you have equipment are minimal. Most areas that allow winter camping convert hiking and biking trails --- not to mention seldom-used back roads --- into trails specifically for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Both activities afford you an excellent full-body workout.
Considerations
You will require special gear for camping in snow. When camping at lower elevations, where the snow is scant, such precautions might be superfluous; however, when camping above an elevation of 5,000 feet in California, it is best not to take chances. Such special gear includes winter clothing, a sleeping bag certified to at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit, an Ensolite pad for your sleeping bag, sealant to protect your boots, a small piece of Ensolite foam to insulate your cook stove, snow shovel, snow stakes for your tent, dark sunglasses to protect against snow blindness and, if camping or skiing/snowshoeing near hills, avalanche probes and beacons.
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