This page includes basic details for all routes on Zwift’s New York world. For additional route details, click the corresponding link to be taken to that route’s detail page.
Released in Zwift’s December 2021 update, this route was created to host the UCI Cycling Esports Worlds in February 2022 (read more about the event).
The route is 2.5 laps of New York’s Knickerbocker route, ending atop of the KOM.
Route Basics
Length: 54.7 km (34.0 miles)
Elevation: 942 m (3,091‘)
Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: Event Only
Released in Zwift’s December 2021 update, this route was created to host the UCI Cycling Esports Worlds in February 2022 (read more about the event).
The route is 2.5 laps of New York’s Knickerbocker route, ending atop of the KOM.
New York’s “Astoria Line 8” is named for NYC’s first subway line. This route covers all the ground-level roads in Central Park. Created from GPS data of the actual park roads, this route accurately reproduces the Central Park ride experience.
Dave Chauner (photo at right), who raced Central Park back in the late 60’s/early 70’s, had this to say after riding the roads on Zwift: Rode the new Central Park course this morning. It’s been a long time but I recognized every meter of the circuit, like this one, a mile or so from the base of Cat’s Paw Hill. But I couldn’t come close to the 13/14 minute lap times we routinely did way back when (’68, ’69, ’70, ’73) during the springtime Central Park Series. Great job Eric and the NYC boys at Zwift!
(“Cat’s Paw Hill”, by the way, is the small rise leading up to the start/finish banner.)
Route Basics
Length: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation: 141 m (463‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 230 XP
New York’s “Astoria Line 8” is named for NYC’s first subway line. This route covers all the ground-level roads in Central Park. Created from GPS data of the actual park roads, this route accurately reproduces the Central Park ride experience.
Dave Chauner (photo at right), who raced Central Park back in the late 60’s/early 70’s, had this to say after riding the roads on Zwift: Rode the new Central Park course this morning. It’s been a long time but I recognized every meter of the circuit, like this one, a mile or so from the base of Cat’s Paw Hill. But I couldn’t come close to the 13/14 minute lap times we routinely did way back when (’68, ’69, ’70, ’73) during the springtime Central Park Series. Great job Eric and the NYC boys at Zwift!
(“Cat’s Paw Hill”, by the way, is the small rise leading up to the start/finish banner.)
New York’s “Everything Bagel” is the longest route on the NYC course, and the perfect route for a hard ~1-hour effort. It covers nearly every road section, many of them in both directions. Looking for a challenge? You’ll get several chances to test your legs against the leaderboards as you hit the KOM and sprint sections in both directions.
Route Basics
Length: 34.2 km (21.3 miles)
Elevation: 525 m (1,722‘)
Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 690 XP
New York’s “Everything Bagel” is the longest route on the NYC course, and the perfect route for a hard ~1-hour effort. It covers nearly every road section, many of them in both directions. Looking for a challenge? You’ll get several chances to test your legs against the leaderboards as you hit the KOM and sprint sections in both directions.
New York’s “Gotham Grind” was created in January 2019 and is currently only available as an event route (no free-riding).
Route Basics
Length: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation: 96 m (315‘)
Lead-In: 0 km ( miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: Event Only
Achievement Badge: none
New York’s “Gotham Grind” was created in January 2019 and is currently only available as an event route (no free-riding).
Route Basics
Length: 6.8 km (4.2 miles)
Elevation: 137 m (449‘)
Lead-In: 1.6 km (1.0 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 140 XP
New York’s “Knickerbocker” covers the same roads as the Astoria Line 8, with the KOM thrown in for good measure. (A Knickerbocker is simply a New Yorker, although the word itself has a long and interesting history.) This is the second-longest route on the NYC course.
Route Basics
Length: 22.5 km (14.0 miles)
Elevation: 346 m (1,135‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 450 XP
New York’s “Knickerbocker” covers the same roads as the Astoria Line 8, with the KOM thrown in for good measure. (A Knickerbocker is simply a New Yorker, although the word itself has a long and interesting history.) This is the second-longest route on the NYC course.
“Knickerbocker Reverse” isn’t a true reverse version of Knickerbocker, but it does take you up the reverse KOM instead of the forward one.
Route Basics
Length: 22.5 km (14.0 miles)
Elevation: 364 m (1,194‘)
Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 450 XP
“Knickerbocker Reverse” isn’t a true reverse version of Knickerbocker, but it does take you up the reverse KOM instead of the forward one.
Route Basics
Length: 12.3 km (7.6 miles)
Elevation: 197 m (646‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 240 XP
Route Basics
Length: 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
Elevation: 23 m (75‘)
Lead-In: 1.6 km (1.0 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: Event Only
Achievement Badge: none
Route Basics
Length: 20 km (12.4 miles)
Elevation: 307 m (1,007‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 400 XP
New York’s “NYC KOM After Party” was created in February 2019 and is currently only available as an event route (no free-riding).
Route Basics
Length: 37 km (23.0 miles)
Elevation: 440 m (1,444‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: Event Only
Achievement Badge: none
New York’s “NYC KOM After Party” was created in February 2019 and is currently only available as an event route (no free-riding).
New York’s “Park Perimeter Loop” takes you on the outermost ground-level path around Central Park. Looking to grab an orange lap leader jersey? This is the only timed route on NYC’s course!
Route Basics
Length: 9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation: 126 m (413‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 190 XP
New York’s “Park Perimeter Loop” takes you on the outermost ground-level path around Central Park. Looking to grab an orange lap leader jersey? This is the only timed route on NYC’s course!
Route Basics
Length: 20.7 km (12.9 miles)
Elevation: 362 m (1,188‘)
Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 410 XP
New York’s “The 6 Train” is the shortest route available for free-riding around NYC. Named for the most direct subway route between Grand Central Station and Central Park, this route covers the “middle loop” of Central Park’s three ground-level loop sections in a clockwise direction.
Route Basics
Length: 6.4 km (4.0 miles)
Elevation: 61 m (200‘)
Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 130 XP
New York’s “The 6 Train” is the shortest route available for free-riding around NYC. Named for the most direct subway route between Grand Central Station and Central Park, this route covers the “middle loop” of Central Park’s three ground-level loop sections in a clockwise direction.
Route Basics
Length: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation: 175 m (574‘)
Lead-In: 10.0 km (6.2 miles)
Map: New York
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 210 XP
Looking for route details of other Zwift worlds? Jump to:
Your website is my go to place for insight into the world of Zwift. Keep up the awesome work you do as Zwift keeps me sane in the dreary days where you cannot ride outside!
Happy to help!
There are new glass roads going towards Midtown from both sides of the KOM summit that are currently closed by barriers. The barriers have been there for a while, but now you can see the actual roads themselves and they are also shown on the overview map. Wondering when this is going to go live…
Love the new Animated Maps. Much easier to visualize the route pre-ride.
Really great resource. Thanks for all the inputs
Hi Eric,
“NYC KOM After Party” says Map: Yorkshire
Is that correct?
I am completely new to Zwift and am completely befuddled by it. I thought I would simply be able to open it up and select one of 100s of routes. But all I seem to be able to access (today, anyway) are various routes within Watopia, Innsbruck, and Richmond. Am I missing something (almost certainly) or is it really a daily random selection of possible routes?
Welcome, Chris!
Yes, you’re missing something. But I don’t blame ya.
There’s a monthly calendar which tells us what courses will be available. Watopia is always available, plus two others. Calendar is in-game, and also here: https://zwiftinsider.com/schedule/
ZInsider is awesome!!!
Where can I find turn by turn descriptions for each of the posted routes?
I’d like to complete a few of the given routes in a single ride without logging off and logging back on again.
Thanks, RD
Thanks Ray!
We don’t have turn by turn directions for any official Zwift routes, since they navigate you automatically when you choose them. Keep in mind if you do them manually you won’t unlock the route badge, either.
That said, if you still want to do it, you’ll have to chart them out yourself! Strava segments would be your friend: https://zwiftinsider.com/verified-zwift-strava-segments/
Great resource! I’m organizing trainings (meetups) for my team and use the maps to build a training by making use of Zwift’s environment (climbs, sprint sections, finish for the final race etc). I however realized yesterday that the lead-in is not always correct: The High-Line has a 10km lead-in per zwift insider/zwift hacks but during my last meetup, I already arrived at the start of the course at less than 5km (basically a 5km lead out iso of 10km). Does anyone know if how the length of the lead out is determined? My workout blocks make use of the km… Read more »
Most likely, Zwift changed the course to reduce the lead-in. The start is now just before 97th Street — see, e.g., https://www.strava.com/activities/4361633543 . Hopefully, Eric can update.
What is needed to get your bike to change colors
only some bikes allow it but if they do there will be a color scale on the right once you pick the bike.