Cedar River (Gladwin County, Michigan) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cedar River
The Cedar River in Gladwin
Country	United States
Physical characteristics
Main source	Hamilton Township, Clare County
River mouth	Tobacco River 712 ft (217 m)
Basin features
River system	Saginaw River

The Cedar River is a 29.0-mile-long (46.7 km) 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°02′20″N 84°39′56″W / 44.03889°N 84.66556°W / 44.03889; -84.66556 (Cedar River (source)) in Hamilton Township, Clare County. It flows into the Tobacco River at 43°53′17″N 84°29′14″W / 43.88806°N 84.48722°W / 43.88806; -84.48722 (Cedar River (mouth)) in Beaverton.

The North Branch Cedar River rises at 44°08′54″N 84°30′58″W / 44.14833°N 84.51611°W / 44.14833; -84.51611 (North Branch Cedar River (source)) in northwest Gladwin County in Sherman Township east of Meredith near the border with Roscommon County, and joins the main branch at 44°01′38″N 84°34′35″W / 44.02722°N 84.57639°W / 44.02722; -84.57639 (North Branch Cedar River (mouth)) a few miles northwest of Wiggins Lake.

The Middle Branch Cedar River rises at 44°06′47″N 84°37′23″W / 44.11306°N 84.62306°W / 44.11306; -84.62306 (Middle Branch Cedar River (source)) in northeast Clare County in Franklin Township just west of Meredith. It flows mostly south and joins with the West Branch at 44°02′40″N 84°37′54″W / 44.04444°N 84.63167°W / 44.04444; -84.63167 (Middle Branch Cedar River (mouth)) in Hamilton Township, near the Gladwin County border.

The West Branch Cedar River rises at 44°06′49″N 84°39′08″W / 44.11361°N 84.65222°W / 44.11361; -84.65222 (West Branch Cedar River (source)) 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 miles (8 km) downstream from Beaverton.

Tributaries and features

From the mouth:

• (left) Doone Creek
• (left) Farm Drain
• (right) Canham Drain
• (left) Lucas Drain
• (left) Swan Lake (also known as Slaughterhouse Lake)
• City of Gladwin
• Bendle Drain
• Silver Creek
• Chappel Dam
• Wiggins Lake (also known as Chappel Pond)
  • (left) Howland Creek
    • Howland Lake
  • (left) Frost Lake
• (left) Smith Creek
• (right) Lake Contos
  • (left) Puro Lake
  • Mud Lake
    • Pratt Lake
• (right) North Branch Cedar River
  • (left) Peach Lake
  • (left) McGilvery Lake
  • (left) Schoolhouse Lake
  • (right) Greasy Jim Lake
  • (left) Blue Lake
    • Island Lake
  • (left) Streaked Lake
    • Trout Lake (Gladwin County)
      • House Lake
      • Hoister Lake (also known as Holster Lake)
• (right) Middle Branch Cedar River
  • (right) Lindy Lake
  • (left) Lake Little George
  • Trout Lake (Clare County)
• (left) Decker Lake
• (right) West Branch Cedar River
  • (left) Popple Creek
• (left) Cranberry Creek
  • • Cranberry Lake
    • Arnold Lake

Drainage basin

The Cedar River drains portions of the following:

• Clare County
  • Arthur Township
  • Franklin Township
  • Frost Township
  • Hamilton Township
  • Hayes Township
• Gladwin County, Michigan
  • City of Beaverton
  • Beaverton Township
  • Buckeye Township
  • City of Gladwin
  • Gladwin Township
  • Grout Township
  • Sage Township
  • Sherman Township
  • Tobacco Township

Images for kids

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  The creek flowing through downtown Gladwin