The Apache called the Pinal Mountains Dzi£ Nnilchí' Diyiléé, meaning "pine-burdened mountain", while the Yavapai called the mountains Walkame, or "pine mountains".[6] Later on, in the 17th century, the Spanish began to explore the region and met with the native peoples; they translated the natives' term for the mountain into Pinal, or "stand of pine trees" in Spanish.[6] On at least one occasion the Pinal Mountains were a battle location between Spanish forces and the native Apache warriors; this brief conflict was called the Battle of the Pinal Mountains.