Zwift is launching its most ambitious new world of 2026: Gravel Mountain, a dedicated gravel-only environment that goes live on April 6, 2026. For indoor cyclists who’ve been craving more authentic gravel riding on the platform — loose surfaces, technical descents, and proper dirt-road climbing — this is the update you’ve been waiting for.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s included, how to access it, and what the new PAS Racing Series means for your training calendar.
What Is Zwift Gravel Mountain?
Gravel Mountain is a brand-new, standalone Zwift world built from the ground up for gravel cycling. Unlike the gravel segments scattered through existing worlds like Watopia and Makuri Islands, Gravel Mountain is an entirely distinct environment where every route is gravel — no tarmac intrusions, no road-bike dominance.
The world features a dramatic red rock canyon aesthetic, with deep gorges, desert plateaus, and winding singletrack-style trails. At its core is a 5.2km signature loop that climbs and descends through the canyon environment, designed to simulate the feel of riding a mixed-surface route in the American Southwest.
The world will be fully open to free ride, structured workouts, and racing from launch day. Gravel Mountain will receive its own dedicated route badges and XP rewards, separate from the existing world achievement system.
The PAS Racing Series: Gravel Races Every Hour
One of the most exciting features launching alongside Gravel Mountain is the PAS Racing Series — a dedicated hourly race event running through the new world from April 6 to May 3, 2026.
PAS stands for “Persistent Achievement Series,” and it’s Zwift’s answer to the demand for structured competitive gravel racing. Events run every hour, 24 hours a day, throughout the series window. Racers are grouped by Zwift Racing Score category, and results feed into a series leaderboard that tracks performance across multiple events.
The PAS format rewards consistency rather than single-race performance. Riders who participate in multiple events accumulate points, with bonuses for podium finishes. At the end of the series on May 3, top finishers in each category receive in-game kit and equipment rewards.
For cyclists looking to add race-specific intensity to their indoor cycling training, the PAS Racing Series offers a compelling structure: back-to-back short races at threshold and above, with the unpredictable surges of gravel racing built in.
18 New Gravel Bike Frames and 13 Wheelsets
Gravel Mountain isn’t just a new map — it comes with a significant equipment expansion. Zwift is adding 18 new gravel bike frames and 13 new wheelset options at launch, specifically optimized for the new world’s terrain.
The new frames include representations from major gravel brands, with Zwift-specific performance data reflecting real-world handling characteristics on loose and technical surfaces. Some frames will be available via the Drop Shop, while others are unlockable through PAS Racing Series achievements.
The new wheelsets include a mix of carbon and alloy options in both 700c and 650b sizing — reflecting the real-world trend toward smaller wheels for more technical gravel terrain. This is the largest single equipment drop Zwift has made for gravel riders since the platform launched the discipline.
How to Access Gravel Mountain From April 6
Access to Gravel Mountain works the same way as other Zwift worlds. From April 6, the world will appear in the world selection screen as a permanent addition to the Zwift lineup. Unlike limited-time activations, Gravel Mountain will remain accessible indefinitely after launch.
- Free ride — Choose Gravel Mountain from the world selector and explore at your own pace
- Structured workouts — Any workout can be completed in Gravel Mountain using the standard workout interface
- PAS Racing Series events — Join directly from the Events tab throughout the April 6–May 3 window
- Group rides — Community group rides will begin scheduling in Gravel Mountain from launch day
All existing Zwift subscriptions include full access to Gravel Mountain — there’s no additional paywall or premium tier required.
Why Gravel Mountain Matters for Your Training
For riders who regularly use Zwift for FTP testing and training zone work, Gravel Mountain adds a genuinely new dimension. The world’s varied terrain naturally produces the kind of power surges and uneven effort that mirror real-world gravel riding far more closely than sustained tarmac climbs.
The 5.2km loop suits interval training particularly well. Its combination of a grinding climb, a technical rolling plateau, and a flowing descent creates natural structure for efforts at different intensities — making it ideal for zone 2 base building on the climb and threshold work on the technical sections.
For cyclists new to gravel who want to understand the discipline before investing in a gravel-specific setup, Gravel Mountain also offers an accessible on-ramp. The physics and handling dynamics are modeled to reflect loose terrain, giving road cyclists a preview of how different the discipline feels before committing to new equipment.
Gravel Mountain vs. Existing Zwift Gravel Options
Watopia has long featured gravel segments — the Jungle Circuit, Titan’s Grove, and the Three Little Sisters. Makuri Islands added further off-road variety. Earlier in 2026, Zwift added dedicated gravel routes and the Montmartre climb to the Virtual Tour de France world.
Gravel Mountain is different in that it’s not grafted onto an existing world. It’s a purpose-built environment where gravel is the default — not a detour from a road-cycling world. The canyon aesthetic is also visually distinct from anything currently in the platform, and the PAS Racing Series adds structured competitive racing that doesn’t currently exist for gravel on Zwift.
What to Do Before April 6
If you’re planning to dive into the PAS Racing Series from day one, a few things are worth doing in advance:
- Check your Zwift Racing Score — PAS events are categorized by racing score, not the old A/B/C/D system. Make sure your score is current before entering races.
- Update your Zwift app — Gravel Mountain arrives via an in-app update on April 6. Ensure your app is fully updated before trying to access the world.
- Check your Drop Shop balance — The new gravel frames and wheelsets arrive on launch day. Review your in-game currency and plan which equipment to prioritize.
- Register for PAS events early — Zwift events have participant caps. For peak-hour slots, register ahead of time through the Events tab once they go live on April 6.
The Bottom Line
Zwift Gravel Mountain is the most committed investment the platform has made in gravel cycling to date. The combination of a purpose-built world, a month-long structured racing series, and the biggest single gravel equipment expansion in Zwift history gives serious gravel riders — and curious newcomers — compelling reasons to log on from April 6.
Whether you’re using it for structured training, competitive racing in the PAS Series, or simply a change of scenery from Watopia’s tarmac, Gravel Mountain looks like a genuinely worthwhile addition to the platform. Set a reminder for Sunday morning.
