Handalm, Mountain summit in Styria, Austria

Handalm is a mountain summit near 1850 meters in the Koralpe region, featuring a small plateau with rock formations surrounded by forest. The peak offers open views across the surrounding mountains once you reach the top.

The Handalm lies on an old grazing area where herders once watched over cattle; published lists record the herders' names and living conditions. Cattle tracks (Viehgangeln) on the slopes date from the period of more intensive pasture use. Until 1959 the northern feeder line of the Deutschlandsberg forest railway ran through the forests north of the peak, where the Laßnitz rises.

The Handalm has long been grazing land where herders watched over cattle; published lists record the herders' names and their living conditions. On the slopes, ridges of trodden earth called Viehgangeln remain from the period of more intensive pasture use. At the foot of the south slope by the Weinebene stands the Pauluskapelle, built in 1982/83 for St Paul, patron of long-distance walkers, with a statue carved by Carl Hermann from Waldviertel granite.

Multiple hiking paths lead to the summit, including the European long-distance path E6 and routes part of the Styrian regional trail network. The paths vary in length and difficulty, so you can pick one that fits your fitness level and available time.

The Handalm's ridge hosts the largest wind farm in southern Austria, whose turbines were being installed in 2017. The peak area itself is a small plateau above the treeline, topped by rock groups (Öfen); the trigonometric point sits in the northern group. The Handhöhkreuz in the saddle toward the Moserkogel marks where the old path between Weinebene and Osterwitz crossed the ridge, useful in the fog that often covers the mountain.