big cedar creek, located in southeast iowa, usa, is a tributary of the skunk river. via the skunk river it is part of the mississippi river watershed. big cedar creek rises in rural mahaska county approximately one mile west of the unincorporated community of cedar. it passes through wapello, jefferson, van buren, and henry counties, passing by fairfield before joining the skunk river near the intersection of u.s. route 34 and clayton avenue, about a half mile south of rome. much of the upper reaches of the creek have been channelized.