Introduced in Zwift’s December 2020 update, Beach Island Loop is the first route to use the new Bridge/Islands Bypass – a short stretch of road connecting the JWB Bridge to the 360 Bridge.
This route is a slightly modified version of the event-only Volcano Flat Reverse route, placing riders on a more northerly segment which adds a quick trip through the Italian Villas and a chance for green glory in the forward sprint.
Introduced in Zwift’s December 2020 update, Beach Island Loop is the first route to use the new Bridge/Islands Bypass – a short stretch of road connecting the JWB Bridge to the 360 Bridge.
This route is a slightly modified version of the event-only Volcano Flat Reverse route, placing riders on a more northerly segment which adds a quick trip through the Italian Villas and a chance for green glory in the forward sprint.
Route Basics
Length: 12.8 km (8.0 miles)
Elevation: 44 m (144‘)
Lead-In: 0 km ( miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
Begins and ends at downtown Watopia start/finish banner.
Achievement Badge: 255 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
JWB Sprint (0.36km, -0.1%) |
Strava Segments
Bike Selection
This is a very flat route, so aero rules. Go with the fastest frame and wheels you can get!
Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
You will begin this route in downtown Watopia, traveling toward the Volcano. Make your way around the Volcano, across the land bridge, and up the dirt switchbacks to the Italian Villas where you will turn left and soon find yourself at the sprint start line. Give it a hard go, and see if you can grab the green jersey!
Just after the sprint banner it’s a quick right onto the Bridge/Islands Bypass. Wave hello to the sea lions, then wind your way over the rollers and turn left onto Ocean Boulevard to head down to the fishing village.
After riding over some docks and dirt you will take the ramp down into the ocean tube, and eventually come back up just a couple of kilometers away from downtown Watopia. Time to gear up for that finish line sprint!
Hi Eric, got the badge on Saturday, but the Strava segment is not showing, the same on Beach Island Loop.
Have you an idea why this happens?
Thanks, Merry Christmas!
Zwift has us spawning AFTER the start/finish banner. Strava segment starts and ends at the banner. So you’ll need to do a u-turn and ride through the banner to start, in order to get the Strava segment.
Hopefully Zwift will fix it soon.
Isn’t that considered deviation from the route by doing a u-turn?
It doesn’t matter, because 1) you picked the route at the start of your ride and 2) you’re covering all the same road you would have covered if you hadn’t done the u-turn.
Just to make sure… only 4 new routes with Badges, right?
1) Beach
2) By pass
3) Lava
4) Serpent
If yes, then: Check (Done)
New wall maps?
Working on it.
Opps.. Lava and by pass the same…
I meant Two-Bridges
Yes, just those 4.
I’ve tried completing this route twice and each time I just get round the Hilly Loop. Anything I can do to stop this? It has also happened yesterday when I tried to ride another of the new routes. I do have the latest version of Zwift and haven’t had a problem with any other routes.
Me too!!
Worst route ever! You do the sprint but before you can even look up to see your result the route turns right and the results board is gone. I’ll never do it again.
I think the route itself is fine… but Zwift needs to fix the leaderboards for sure.
Completed this route twice now and came upas route complete but no badge! So annoying. This also happened on Road to Sky just after a Christmas. Zwift is starting to do my head in.
Same here
I don’t understand how this works to get badges. Trying to figure it out. How many times must I ride this route ? In order to get a badge ?
Complete the route just once for the badge.
Because of where you spawn, you may actually have to do the route twice if you aren’t comfortable with doing a U-turn to go through the banner far enough to do another U-turn to get you going in the right direction again for the route.
Eric, thank you for your course descriptions. The course descriptions and bike/wheels recommendations are spot on. I always come here before attempting a new course/route. Zwift may be the new indoor cycling religion, but ZwiftInsider is its Bible. Ride On!
“Zwift may be the new indoor cycling religion, but ZwiftInsider is its Bible.” That’s my new favorite quote of 2021, Ernesto! Ride on.
What is a good time for the sprint section in a 3 lap race .. thanks.
Low 20’s… probably 21-22s.