I would like to add this to our database, but am having trouble identifying which specific paintbrush it might be. I think it may be Castilleja miniata (common red paintbrush) but would welcome any other ideas - or a confirmation that this is correct. This photo was taken up at Paradise Lodge on Mount Rainier (about 5,400 ft elevation) if that is helpful to the ID. Thanks.

Yes, Castilleja are difficult to identify and there are also a lot of hybrids in some areas (in the mountains here, for example). According to Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Turner and Gustafson), the species whose flower colour ranges include orange, that occur in the Mt. Rainier area are C. hispida, C. miniata and C. rupicola. All 3 are described as possibly having lance-shaped leaves.
Do you have any closer photos of the same plant?
Both C. rupicola and C. hispida usually have lobed upper leaves; I can't see that on your plant (though a closer photo would help), so, sure, could be C. miniata?

From reviewing the plant key in my native field guide, I am fairly certain this one is C. miniata (common red paintbrush) as it has lance shaped leaves with no lobing. The guide also notes there is significant variation in the species. As you noted, Lori, C. miniata is common in the Mount Rainier area. There was also a magenta variety which I don't think I got a photo of, but which was simply labeled Magenta Paintbrush. I never did find a label for the orange-red one, but it was well represented throughout the area.

Bonehead said:There was also a magenta variety which I don't think I got a photo of, but which was simply labeled Magenta Paintbrush.

Love that sort of labelling, LOL! Sounds like these were in a nature trail, perhaps?

Yes, it was on the main paved trail up at Paradise Inn, which runs through huge wildflower fields before it connects to the higher trail heads. It was quite impressive, although we were there a day after a big thunderstorm and a lot of the flowers were rather tattered from the rain.