The present invention provides a wire guide having a variable stiffness region that may be selectively adjusted to vary the stiffness along a portion of the wire guide. The wire guide generally comprises an outer core member and an inner core member, wherein the inner core member is disposed for longitudinal movement with respect to the outer core member. The outer core member is attached to a proximal end of a coiled member, while the inner core member is attached to the coiled member at an attachment region between proximal and distal ends of the coiled member. In operation, distal advancement of the outer core member with respect to the inner core member causes the coiled member to compress at a location between the proximal end of the coiled member and the attachment region, thereby selectively increasing the stiffness along a portion of the length of the wire guide.