Methods and apparatus for obtaining endoluminal access are provided comprising a steerable endoluminal guide having a variable pivot for altering steering dynamics. In one variation, variable pivoting is achieved by advancing a member having a hard or substantially rigid section to various depths within a lumen of the guide. The hard section resists deformation, thereby reducing or precluding pivoting of the guide proximal of the distal-most depth of hard section insertion. In another variation, the guide comprises one or more pivot wires that terminate at a segment of the guide disposed proximal of the guide's distal outlet. In such a variation, the steering pivot of the guide may be altered by applying tension to at least one pivot wire, while concurrently applying tension to a steering wire that terminates more distally than the pivot wire, and that is radially offset from the pivot wire about the circumference of the guide. In another variation, one or more stiffening elements are translated over or alongside one or more steering wires to alter the guide's pivot.