The Cedar River is a 29.0 mi river in the U.S. state of Michigan, flowing through Clare County and Gladwin County. The main branch of the river is formed by the confluence of Cranberry Creek and the West Branch Cedar River at 44.03889°N, -84.66556°W in Hamilton Township, Clare County. It flows into the Tobacco River at 43.88806°N, -84.48722°W in Beaverton. The North Branch Cedar River rises at 44.14833°N, -84.51611°W in northwest Gladwin County in Sherman Township east of Meredith near the border with Roscommon County, and joins the main branch at 44.02722°N, -84.57639°W a few miles northwest of Wiggins Lake. The Middle Branch Cedar River rises at 44.11306°N, -84.62306°W in northeast Clare County in Franklin Township just west of Meredith. It flows mostly south and joins with the West Branch at 44.04444°N, -84.63167°W in Hamilton Township, near the Gladwin County border. The West Branch Cedar River rises at 44.11361°N, -84.65222°W in Franklin Township, a few miles southwest of Meredith. Another tributary, Cranberry Creek rises in Arnold and Cranberry lakes a few miles northeast of Harrison. The Little Cedar River is not a tributary of the Cedar River, but flows into the Tobacco River approximately 5 mi downstream from Beaverton.

Tributaries and features

From the mouth:

Drainage basin

The Cedar River drains portions of the following: