All About Zwift’s Watopia Jarvis Expansion

November 13, 2024

LAST UPDATED November 13, 2024

Table of Contents

Yesterday Zwift rolled out a much-anticipated addition to Watopia, the game’s largest and most popular map.

With only 5km of fresh pavement, the addition may seem rather small. But it’s a very significant stretch of 5km, because it’s the return of Jarvis Island, the first road ever ridden on Zwift.

So it’s a throwback to Zwift’s 2014 roots, which feels quite fitting and nostalgic as Zwift celebrates its 10-year anniversary this season. Read on to learn more about the Jarvis expansion.

New Routes

This expansion adds a 4.8km loop connected to the Volcano Circuit via a short spur (see white road above). Six new routes have been added to the game, each using the new loop in different ways.

The new routes are free-ridable and earn achievement badges the first time they’re completed. These routes are also available for event scheduling via Clubs if you have the latest version of Zwift’s Companion app.

Deca Dash

52.4km distance
500m elevation

Start in downtown Watopia, then head over to Jarvis Island for 10 clockwise laps. Ends at the sprint banner.

Waisted 8

30.7km distance
144m elevation

It’s Watopia’s Waistband, but in reverse, and with a clockwise lap of Jarvis Island thrown in.

Triple Twist

24.4km distance
200m elevation

Takes in the Volcano Circuit and Jarvis Island clockwise before returning to a Hilly Route reverse loop with a finish at the Jarvis Sprint.

Coast to Coast

24.1km distance
164m elevation

A point-to-point route beginning at the coastal start pens and finishing with a CCW lap of Jarvis Island.

Loopin Lava

18.3km distance
212m elevation

A CCW loop of Jarvis Island followed by the Volcano Climb before descending and finishing at the Jarvis Island lap banner.

The Classic

8.8km distance
64m elevation

Simple and sweet. This is literally the route that started it all! One CCW loop of Jarvis Island, beginning with a lead-in from downtown Watopia and ending at the lap banner.

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!

Deca Dash: 1000XP
Waisted 8: 615XP
Triple Twist: 400XP
Coast to Coast: 480XP
Loopin Lava: 285XP
The Classic: 100XP

There’s also a badge for “The Classic Run”, just for the runners.

A Grand Entrance

The first time you enter Jarvis, be sure to have your sound turned on! Zwift has put together an epic unveiling sequence, and it will only happen the first time you enter Jarvis. We recorded it for posterity:

Sightseeing Tour

The new road can be broken down into three areas. Here’s a quick photo tour progressing around the loop counterclockwise.

Italian Villas and Lap Arch

Take a right as you enter Jarvis Island, waving hello to the bear sculpture (is that Jarvis the bear… with Scotty Squirrel on his back?) and you’ll find yourself passing some familar-looking buildings. These were the inspiration for Watopia’s Italian Villas.

After riding through the lap arch, look right to spot the Queen Mary, a nod to Zwift’s Long Beach headquarters.

The KOM and Forest

After passing the Queen Mary, you’ll feel the road tilt upward as you enter the forest and pass the Jarvis KOM start line right where the big trees begin. With its tall sequoias this area feels a lot like Watopia’s Titans Grove. Hear some down-home pickin’ as you pass the Banjo Cafe, then you’ll cross not one but two bridges before finishing the KOM. (That second bridge is a steep one!)

The KOM finishes in a ride-through tree like you’ve seen in Watopia’s Sequoia Circle, then you can descend back to flat ground for a sprint. (Note: if you travel in the other direction, there’s a KOM going the other way, too. They both share the same finishing arch in the ride-thru tree.)

The Sprint

Return to flat ground and it’s time for a sprint to finish off your Jarvis Island lap. You’ll pass the start of the KOM (in the other lane, going the other way), then the sprint start line is upon you: