While many cyclists would rather ride outside, winter’s short days, icy roads, and, well, life, can make it impossible to get out. And even if you can get out, for many of us, finding an epic climb requires a day trip or even a flight to hillier terrain.
Enter Zwift, the virtual cycling platform that lets you conquer the steepest, longest ascents without leaving your house.
The only problem? Deciding which climb to do. As the platform continues to expand its offerings, it only becomes harder to figure out which route to tackle on a given day. We know you’d rather spend time riding your bike than researching your next ride, so we talked to a selection of experts to find out which climbs they recommend and why.
What to Know Before You Do a Zwift Climb
Whichever ascent you choose, it’s important to be prepared before you hop on your trainer. That means directing a fan toward your bike, getting in a solid warmup of at least 10 minutes before you approach the base of your climb, and paying attention to your nutrition and hydration needs.
Fuel up before your workout with plenty of carbs and be sure to consume fluids, including calories and electrolytes during your workout so you can finish strong and recover well.
To access your climb of choice, start by clicking on the link in this article to view climb details in Zwift Insider. Toward the bottom of the Zwift Insider page is a list of routes that include the climb in question. Choose your route, and then open Zwift. From the home screen, select “routes” at the top of the page. Next, select the world where you can find your desired route, choose it, and start pedaling.
Note that Watopia is the only world that’s accessible 24/7. On any given day, you can access Watopia plus two rotating “guest worlds.” To check world availability, check out the calendar in Zwift Insider.
7 Zwift Climbs to Try Today
1. Alpe Du Zwift
Distance: 7.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,399 feet
Average Gradient: 8.5 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
You’re training for events with long climbs, Gran Fondos, or other endurance events, says David Lipscomb, Bicycling coach and owner of CIS Training Systems. Perfect for helping you develop muscular endurance and steady power output, “It’s especially valuable for those seeking to improve threshold power (FTP) and pacing strategies on extended efforts,” he says.
It’s also a great place to test your FTP, says Jim Capra, head coach of Tyler Hamilton Training.
Designed to mimic the Tour de France’s iconic Alpe D’Huez, this beast of a climb is only for those “seeking an intense climb in a short distance,” says Jen Kates, certified personal trainer, health and performance coach for cyclists, and founder of Shift Human Performance. “It’s not for everyone,” she says.
Pro tip:
If you’re not sure you’re ready to conquer the Alpe Du Zwift yet, practice some shorter climbs to prepare for the challenge and to build your confidence, says Renee Eastman, C.S.C.S., cycling coach with Carmichael Training Systems.
She often has her athletes start with a route like the Volcano Climb that includes the 2.3-mile Volcano KOM. Once they’re comfortable completing that route, she’ll have them progress to the Climber’s Gambit, which includes the longer 3.9-mile Epic KOM Reverse climb. Finally, they’d ride the Mountain route that goes up the 5.9-mile Epic KOM (forward) climb and includes the bonus Radio Tower climb. “After doing these climbs the athlete would be ready to take on the 21 switchbacks of the 7.6-mile Alpe du Zwift,” says Eastman.
While there are multiple ways to access Alpe du Zwift, the Road to Sky route gives you about a 10- to 12-minute warmup before the incline starts, says Capra.
2. Epic KOM
Distance: 5.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,364 feet
Average Gradient: 3.9 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
You’re looking for a short but intense climb that will help you become more proficient at ascents. While it’s not known for being as scenic as other climbs in Zwift, the Epic KOM is a classic and that shouldn’t be missed, says Kates. “At the end of the climb, you have an ibex waiting for you. Plus, the KOM/ QOM jersey even has an ibex on the design to commemorate your achievement,” she says.
While the EPIC KOM may not be the most exciting hill in itself, more than a dozen routes include it, so you won’t get bored finding your way to the base.
Pro tip:
If you want to make this climb even spicier, choose the Mountain Route, suggests Lipscomb. “This climb combines a moderate ascent with a brutal, steep Radio Tower finish,” he says.
The Mountain Route adds 874 feet of elevation and includes a short but very steep section (topping out at a 17 percent gradient), so “be ready to stand and surge,” he says.
Cyclists looking for high-intensity intervals (zones 5 and 6) will certainly find them on the way to the Radio Tower, says Lipscomb. Plus, “the variability in gradient mimics real-world climbs, making it excellent for developing strength and anaerobic capacity.”
If you need to tackle punchy climbs or technical hills where pacing and power variability are key factors, this climb is a great pick, says Lipscomb.
3. Epic KOM Reverse
Distance: 3.9 miles
Total elevation gain: 1,321 feet
Average gradient: 5.9 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
You’re looking for a long, sustained threshold effort or a good place to test your FTP. “It takes most of my athletes 20 to 30 minutes to climb,” says Eastman.
Pro tip:
Eastman suggests accessing the Epic KOM Reverse via the Climber’s Gambit route, which offers a generous warmup—more than 12 miles, including a few gentle inclines—before you hit the base of the climb.
“The Climber’s Gambit route is 17.2 miles long with 2,198 feet elevation gain and is going to take most of my athletes 65 to 80 minutes to complete, so it makes for a reasonable mid-week threshold workout,” she says.
4. The Grade
Distance: 2.2 miles
Total elevation gain: 1,001 feet
Average gradient: 8.6 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
You’re short on time but you want a challenging, effective training ride—or an engaging FTP test.
Pro tip:
“The Grade is a climb segment with a built-in FTP test, so cyclists can knock out two things at once if they want to,” says Kates. It’s especially good for riders looking to boost their performance on punchy and demanding climbs, she says.
If you’re skeptical about using The Grade as you FTP test, knowing that for many fitter riders, it takes well under 20 minutes, not to worry. According to Zwift Insider, Zwift uses your average power and finish time on The Grade and calculations based on the results of more than half a million FTP tests completed on the platform to come with a more accurate FTP estimate.
5. Richmond Cobbled Climbs
Distance: 5.7 miles
Total elevation gain: 413 feet
Average gradient: Features two distinct sections with gradients averaging 6.4 and 10.0 percent
Found in: Richmond
Do this climb if…
You’re looking for a very intense workout, including two short, punchy climbs of about two minutes each, “this route is a good option for going all-out or ‘full gas’ for the duration,” says Capra. He recommends it for the cyclist who wants to expand and improve their top-end zones.
Pro tip:
While the distance and elevation profile might not appear too imposing, Capra suggests pacing yourself strategically. Starting at the beginning of the first climb, he recommends downshifting so that you can spin at a higher cadence. Then, as you make your way toward the finish line, “put your head down and go hard.”
6. Volcano KOM
Distance: 2.4 miles
Total elevation gain: 422 feet
Average gradient: 3.2 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
You’re looking for a solid eight- to 12-minute sustained effort. This is a great route to use for a weekday workout when you don’t have the luxury of extra time, or when you want the flexibility to do multiple loops on the same course.
Pro tip:
While you can approach it from many different Watopia routes, Eastman is partial to the Volcano Climb route. At 14.4 miles with 666 feet of climbing, it takes most of her clients 40 to 45 minutes to complete.
“Depending on the goals and time available for the workout an athlete can complete multiple loops to incorporate multiple threshold climbing efforts on the Volcano KOM,” she says.
7. Innsbruck Lutscher
Distance: 8.5 miles
Total elevation gain: 1,319 feet
Average gradient: 6.0 percent
Found in: Watopia
Do this climb if…
Your objective is to boost your lactate tolerance or practice climbing at your FTP. “It’s perfect for criterium racers and time trialists,” says Lipscomb. An intense climb with scenic Austrian views, “it offers a mix of steady effort and a challenging kick near the top.”
Pro tip:
To optimize your workout, Lipscomb suggests hitting the climb at the upper end of zone 4, near your FTP, with the goal of holding consistent watts, saving something for the final gradient spike (which maxes out at 10 percent).
Coach Lipscomb’s bonus tip: Pair the Innsbruck Lutscher climb with the Inssbruckring Loop for a workout that includes both climbs and flat sections.
Pam Moore is an occupational therapist-turned-intuitive eating coach, certified personal trainer, and award-winning freelance writer with bylines in outlets including The Washington Post, Time, SELF, Outside, Runner's World, and others. Listen to her podcast, Real Fit, or subscribe to her newsletter, Real Nourished, at
