All About Watopia’s New Southern Coast Road

This week Zwift is rolling out a much-anticipated addition to Watopia, the game’s largest and most popular map. Adding 19 kilometers of fresh pavement to Watopia’s southern coast, the expansion includes eight new routes, four sprints, new wildlife, and lots of future possibilities!

Here’s everything you need to know about Watopia’s new southern coast road…

New Routes

This expansion includes eight new routes. Four are over 40km long! (Note: the distance figures below include lead-ins from the free-ride spawn point, but some routes will be longer when used in events.)

Accelerate to Elevate

41.3km distance
1152m elevation

A point-to-point route from Fuego Flats to the new coastal road, finishing up Alpe du Zwift!

Read more >

The Big Ring

48.9km distance
268m elevation

This large, flattish loop starts on the desert side and covers a clockwise perimeter of Watopia, sans Alpe du Zwift.

Read more >

Canopies and Coastlines

27.5km distance
246m elevation

A point-to-point route that starts in Titans Grove and ends at the last sprint arch of the new coastal road.

Read more >

Coast Crusher

42.4km distance
208m elevation

An out-and-back route starting in the Jungle, turning around at the desert LAX roundabout, and ending at the last sprint on the coastal road. Eight sprints!

Read more >

Going Coastal

16.5km distance
63m elevation

A point-to-point route from Fuego Flats to the new coastal road, ending at Sasquatch Sprint.

Read more >

Shorelines and Summits

50.1km distance
793m elevation

A large CCW loop beginning in the Jungle, hitting the new coastal road, then going up and over the Epic KOM (including Radio Tower).

Read more >

Sugar Cookie

39km distance
258m elevation

A large CCW loop beginning in the Jungle, hitting the new coastal road, then taking the Epic KOM bypass back toward the Jungle.

Read more >

Temple Trek

10.4km distance
42m elevation

A short one starting in the Jungle and riding down the coastal road through Sandy Coast to the Acropolis Sprint.

Read more >

New Route Badges

Each new route also has a route badge, so you’ll earn a chunk of XP and the achievement badge the first time you complete the route! (Zwift tweaked the way they compute route XP in this release, and we’re not sure what the new algorithm is. But it’s close to the previous 20XP/km, so you’re effectively earning double XP the first time you ride each route.)

Sightseeing Tour

The new road has four distinct areas. Here’s a quick photo tour of each one, progressing from the Fuego Flats side toward the Mayan Jungle side (east to west).

Googie Springs

Turn at the LAX roundabout in Fuego Flats and head through the narrow corridor and you arrive at the hamlet of Googie Springs. Named for the architecture style you’ll find just up the road in Saddle Springs, this fishing village includes the world-famous Mr Crankie’s Crab Shack.

Evergreen Coast

Up the road from Googie Springs, the trees close in around you as you enter the large Evergreen Coast section. Here you’ll see lots of Sasquatch (Bigfoot) references, an old shipwreck, Misty Pines campground, and your first two sprint segments (Woodland Sprint and Sasquatch Sprint).

Ciudad La Cumbre

Ride through the “tunnel with a view” and you’ll find yourself in Ciudad La Cumbre (“Summit City”), named as such since it’s located at the base of the Epic KOM.

This Spanish-themed town includes many colorful buildings, a beautifully-tiled oceanfront walk, and even an “umbrella sky” art installation.

Sandy Coast

Another tunnel takes you out of Cuidad La Cumbre and you’re heading into the fourth and final section, the settlement of Sandy Coast.

This area features distinctive colorful Mayan architecture and has two more sprint segments: Acropolis Sprint and Stoneway Sprint.

Keep going and you’ll find yourself on the Jungle Circuit.

Four Sprints… Or Eight?

It may be hard to believe, but before this expansion, Watopia only had three proper sprint sections:

This coast expansion adds four sprint arches to the map, each with a sprint segment in both directions. This means eight new sprint segments have been added to Watopia!

In-game leaderboards show the same sprint name regardless of direction, but that’s confusing when referencing a sprint segment for points races like Zwift Racing League. Therefore we’ve added “reverse” to the sprints’ names in one direction. We’ve set the “forward” direction as coming from the Jungle (so traveling east) and the “reverse” direction as coming from the desert (traveling west).

Believe the Legend

In the Evergreen Coast section you’ll see various references to Sasquatch, including warning signs:

Does Sasquatch exist? Well, we knew his cool cousin the Yeti was in Zwift, so we assumed Sasquatch was as well. Then we found him:

More Videos

Accessing the New Road

All Zwifters can ride these new routes as soon as they update to Zwift version 1.51+. Choose any of the new routes from the Watopia route list, or freely navigate your way there by making the proper turn near the Jungle Circuit lap arch or the LAX roundabout in Fuego Flats.

Beginning October 30, some of the new routes will be featured in the fifth stage of the Tour of Watopia. Once the Tour of Watopia ends, Zwifters must be at level 10+ to ride the new road/routes.

More to Come?

Zwift’s press release about the new roads includes this tantalizing bit: “In the future, Watopia’s construction planners expect to use the new causeway as a backbone for additional new roads, giving Zwifters access to other remote parts of Watopia that are not currently developed for cycling.”

We aren’t sure what Zwift’s planners have in store, but a connector climb from the coast to midway up the Epic KOM would make a brilliant (and scenic) addition!

Your Thoughts

Got questions or comments about Zwift’s newest road? Share below!

Eric Schlange
Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

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Rob Goddard
Rob Goddard
1 month ago

Rode it earlier today. I thought it looks nice, but it dragged on to the point where it felt more like a chore to ride than anything that might hold my interest. Not helped by the fact that you can’t just start on the new bits. I’m hoping I’ll warm to it, though….

CPF
CPF
1 month ago

Will the Watopia map poster at the shop be updated to include the new roads?

AMS
AMS
1 month ago

also make sure to update your companion app. it had me in the middle of the ocean on this road until i updated it

Ryan
Ryan
1 month ago

I still don’t have the update on the PC. is there a way to force update it?

math
math
1 month ago
Reply to  Ryan

Same for me, I tried to uninstall Zwift and then reinstall it, but I’m still on the same version.

dan
dan
1 month ago

half way along there is roads that look like they may be used for that connector blocked off by cones – climbing straight out of the coast. they could do a really cool climb from there.

Paul R
Paul R(@paulrayner)
1 month ago
Reply to  dan

I noticed a big road going straight up the mountain when riding this morning, from Ciudad La Cumbre. Now I’ve read this article and seen that means “Summit City”, that’s my bet for where the road will connect.

2023-10-27_10-44-01_4_clean.jpg
Nathan Lipke
Nathan Lipke(@nlipke)
1 month ago

Riding Accelerate to Elevate and get photos of both Sasquatch and Yeti should be an automatic level up. 😂

John G
John G
1 month ago

I am not a Zwift basher. I think I get a good value at less than $1/ride. But this “rolling release” approach to software updates, particularly for desirable upgrades like this new coastal experience, means that by definition, half of all users must wait to receive new goodies until after the other half gets. Perhaps a simultaneous rollout to all users on all platforms overwhelms Zwift’s limited technical support staff, or is too risky. I don’t know. But this isn’t a good way to manage your customers. (For perspective, I personally started looking for 1.51 on the morning of the… Read more »

Brad M
Brad M
1 month ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks for passing that along. I was hoping to ride the new routes both on the 25th and 26th and still do not have the update (PC). It’s really not an enjoyable user experience.

Jordan Dea-Mattson
Jordan Dea-Mattson
27 days ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Being in the internet app business for many years, I can say: there are quick rollouts and there are smooth rollouts, but there are no quick, smooth rollouts.

The best way to do a rollout, so that it doesn’t potentially disrupt the entire world, is to roll it out: 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50% 100%

Julien
Julien
1 month ago
Reply to  John G

France, friday 27th, Level 30, we don’t have it yet ! May be one day… several days after others as always…

Rubén
Rubén
1 month ago
Reply to  Julien

Same for me…Spain

Bocherel
Bocherel
1 month ago
Reply to  Julien

France and I got the update today at 11:00AM local time. I rode a section of the new road.

Adam Dawson
Adam Dawson(@adamjmdawson)
1 month ago

The new towns feel eerily empty? Totally different vibe to the Makuri roads which are very much alive

Andy Linquist
Andy Linquist
1 month ago

I’m level 60 and my kids are both above 19 so it doesn’t necessarily impact us but level locking this makes little sense. Paying customers should be able to ride anywhere. And if level locking it means they won’t use robo pacers on those new longer routes, then it impacts everyone in a negative way.

Rene Saarsoo
Rene Saarsoo
28 days ago
Reply to  Andy Linquist

I for one like the idea of being able to unlock routes. Gives you an additional carrot to chase.

That said, this southern coast route pales in comparison to the Alpe, which you can already unlock at level 6. It makes no sense that to unlock this little road you need to get 3x the XP needed to unlock Alpe.

My guess is that there will be additional climbs starting from this route which would make this area more desirable in the future.

Patrick Roberts
Patrick Roberts
27 days ago
Reply to  Andy Linquist

I agree that shutting off part of the map is unfair. We all pay the same subscription, we should all have same access to the routes. If my tv subscription launched a new channel then told me I could only access it for 10 days I would be pretty mad. I agree that drops, bikes etc are motivators. I have been with Zwift a month, am level 9 and only 1000XPs away from level 10 which is no more than 2 rides away so this isn’t a personal gripe. I emailed Zwift, received three replies which were all just vague,… Read more »

Jeff
Jeff
1 month ago

I hope they start runnin the bots on these roads! Especially coco. Add a second coco ffs!

Jeroen
Jeroen
1 month ago

Nobody at Zwift figured out that it would be (a little) more fun to take the left / reverse route in the Jungle, when you descent to the arch for the second time? Or is it just me?

Brian
Brian
1 month ago

Rode most of it this morning and lots of visuals to take in, kept changing the camera. There are also some cones leading to a road behind the small village in Evergreen Coast. It reminded me of the small towns at the base of many European climbs. Maybe a route up the back of KOM?

Jeff
Jeff
1 month ago

I wish there was a turnaround by the jungle entrance when going clockwise. I would love to be able to basically double the “Tempus Fugit” route length by using this road without having to do a U-turn to head back towards the desert.

Tim
Tim
1 month ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Rebel route with a u turn, I think that’s a first.

Finch
Finch
29 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

Came here to say exactly this! Would love the built in turn around at the Jungle end.

Tim
Tim
29 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

I honestly assumed the big dots indicating the start/end of routes was a new roundabout/turnaround circle.

Darren
Darren
28 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

That was the first “route” I did on the new roadway. (I’m level 35, don’t care at all about XP or badges at this point)

Carrie
Carrie
1 month ago

Could we get the more speedy version of these videos … like the ones they share for races.

alistair T
alistair T
30 days ago

Yet another flat route, when was the last time zwift opened a decent climb? Highlands of scotland had one 5 minute effort. a new good 10-15-20 minute efforts are needed more than more flat road.

Tim
Tim
30 days ago
Reply to  alistair T

They opened the entire climb portal just recently with a dozen or so climbs.

Tonya
Tonya
28 days ago
Reply to  Tim

The new climb portal was not visualized. These ugly colors don’t count for me. It also definitely needs a few more reasonable climbs.

Howard Waller
Howard Waller
30 days ago

I rode it today and it’s a shame they didn’t include a roundabout or two. That would make it easy to arrange a few more short routes, or maybe shorter races.

Jasper
Jasper
28 days ago

I did found the Sasquatch during my last ride

Tony Lane
Tony Lane
28 days ago

If you look out to sea at the horizon, there seems to be a land mass to the south. Would be great if they would develop that as North Africa, or Greece, or some other such land. Would need an express tunnel or similar to get there, as there would be no point just having it as a separate world.

Kristian
Kristian
28 days ago

Will these new badges be added to ZwiftHub?

Thanks Eric for all you do with this, such a great resource.

Jim Shannon
Jim Shannon
28 days ago

I rode Temple Trek this morning. At some point along the course the top middle stat panel stopped showing the remaining distance, etc. as if I was off course, however, I was following all the colored directional signs. The stated route details for this course is 6.4 miles, however, I road to 10.2 miles before the route completion banner appeared. I’ve learned to rely on total distance for a route with a grain of salt. How is it that Zwift doesn’t always get the right hand knowing what the left hand is doing when posting the route details? This is… Read more »

Darren
Darren
28 days ago

I like it! Watopia was starting to feel very cramped and claustrophobic, this pavement opens up some big new routes and makes the world feel a lot bigger.

Georges Guêpe
Georges Guêpe
27 days ago

In regard connector climbs. If Cuidad la Cumbre is an anticipated southern gateway to the Col d’Zwift, then howabout a bonkers gradient route directly up to the Radio Station (bypassing the Epics) akin to Angliru, with a Colombian twist and turn or two?! 

Paul Prince
Paul Prince(@paul-prince)
27 days ago

My wife and I both rode Canopies and Coastines today. I was unfocused because Amazon music stopped working just as I wanted to drop the hammer. I like the idea of multiple sprints in a row.

However, my wife went through a few hours later and it was recognising my sprints as her previous attempts. We were both using separate accounts. Anyone else seen this bug?

Paul Prince
Paul Prince(@paul-prince)
27 days ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks. I should have mentioned both rides synced correctly to Strava without issue and saved correctly under our individual names, so does not appear to be an incorrect account.

When I rode this morning my wife’s sprint attempts showed on my coastal sprints, but none of her previous attempts showed on the Tempus Fugit area. Appears to be limited to the new roads, but I may have to experiment further.

Steve D
Steve D
27 days ago

My screen locked after about 1 1/2 laps on “Going Coastal” That’s the first and last time I ever ride a “Beta” route on this platform. Whoever signed off on releasing this needs to be fired.

Tony Lane
Tony Lane
27 days ago
Reply to  Steve D

probably nothing to do with the route

David
David
27 days ago

Eric,
The Route Badge XP for the new routes don’t seem to give credit for lead-in distance. I looked at older routes and the badge XP calculation included lead-in. Is this a new feature? TIA David

Jon Halterman
Jon Halterman(@jonhalterman17)
27 days ago

Perhaps a turn around in the jungle could use the Mayan bridge to create a continuous out and back on the Southern Coast with the LAX turnaround in the desert? A new rebel route?

Erlendur
Erlendur
22 days ago

When will https://zwifthub.com/ be updated with the new route badges?

Kristian
Kristian
21 days ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

💗Thanks Eric!

Stu
Stu
12 days ago

Trying to do the Shorelines and Summits route – I kept getting turned off the route.
The first attempt kept routing me around the Jungle Loop. I restarted the route and paid attention to pick the correct turn out of there, but then it sent me down the wrong turn when I hit the desert.
I guess I’ll need to print out a route sheet to make sure I pick the correct turns.

Stu
Stu
9 days ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

I had the same experience again on two routes – Sugar Cookie and Shoelines and Summits. I’m wondering if it has anything to do with using Sauce. I turned on its map, and I noticed that it didn’t show these roads. I tried a short route without Sauce (Going Coastal – only one turn), and it got that turn correct.

Stu
Stu
8 days ago
Reply to  Stu

Turns out that the error was user error. I had dug my Sterzo back out and didn’t realize I was steering myself off the course by cutting the curves. I think when Sterzo first came out, it wouldn’t actually select the different turns, but it does now – and probably has for some time. Badge hunting brings this into play in a way that other rides like the Tour of Watopia don’t.

Alex
Alex
11 days ago

Will these routes be added to ZwiftHub?

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