The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal flexible member, such as a helical coil, which is formed with at least one highly radiopaque component and at least one high strength component. In a presently preferred embodiment, the highly radiopaque component is at least 10% and less than about 60% of the transverse cross-section of the flexible member, preferably at least 20% but less than 40%. The highly radiopaque component may be formed of radiopaque material such as platinum, gold, iridium and the like and the high strength component may be formed of a material such as tantalum, stainless steel, NiTi alloys, Co—Cr—Mo alloys and the like.