A person is hiking in the Canyonlands of Utah, and she realizes that the beautiful panorama that is unfolding in front of her could not have happened by accident; there must have been some wonderful plan and power that created this and many other wonderful natural areas. This is a religious:

ritual
belief
experience
sect

it has to be experience. ritual is something passed on or done over and over. belief is something done that is custom to the culture, and a sect is a set way of doing things. experience seems the only logical one right?

The "realization" is an experience, but it remains a belief also.

The "wonderful plan and power" could be just the result of physical laws being followed without divine intervention since the universe began with a Big Bang.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/belief?view=uk

All this is in her mind, right?

experience

Yes, you are correct. In this scenario, the person's realization of a higher power or plan while witnessing the beauty of the natural landscape in the Canyonlands of Utah would be considered a religious experience. A religious experience refers to a personal encounter or awareness that is deeply connected to one's beliefs or understanding of the divine or spiritual realm. Unlike rituals or beliefs, a religious experience is individual and subjective, often involving a profound sense of awe, wonder, or connection to a higher power.